Far fewer seek police posts in Warren

WARREN -- The city's civil service commission has accepted 38 applications for vacant police officer positions -- far fewer than in years past.
Commission officials say a few hundred applications have been collected in the past when hiring was announced.
A test for police officers will be given Oct. 27.
The commission has not yet set a date for a firefighters test.
The city laid off safety services and other personnel in 2000 to head off budget cuts.
Not all employees came back when layoffs were recalled after voters in May approved a 0.5 percent income tax increase.
The city vowed at that time to restore staffing to 1999 levels. Officials said recently that if waning income tax collections pull the city back into the red, fewer officers and firefighters will be hired than originally planned.
Wants to return: In other news, the commission entertained a letter from a former city officer who was laid off and wants to return to the force.
The officer took a job with Girard police and did not return to Warren when layoffs were recalled.
Officials are looking into what needs to be done for the officer to return.