Council OKs ranking-officer cut

By David Skolnick

The patrol officers’ union offered a counterproposal.

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite strong objections from leaders of the two police department unions, city council approved a reduction in the number of ranking officers from 66 to 39 through attrition.

Council members will have a safety committee meeting next week to hear from police officers about proposed changes to the legislation it adopted Wednesday.

But Capt. Kenneth Centorame, president of the ranking officers’ union, and Edward Colon, head of the patrol officers’ union, said they doubted any substantive changes would be made by council at next Wednesday’s safety committee meeting.

The two urged council to wait before voting on the policy change developed by the city’s administration.

“I don’t think you should rush into anything,” Centorame said. “It’s a mistake. You can’t make an informed decision in such a brief time.”

Council received the administration’s recommendations only a few days ago. Centorame found out about the proposal Monday from a reporter with The Vindicator.

There is no time frame for the complete implementation of the plan because ranking-officer positions will be phased out when those cops leave the police department.

The plan is to replace each departing ranking officer with a patrol officer, Williams said.

The patrol officers’ union put together a proposal that would cut the number of ranking officers to 44, also through attrition. The legislation council adopted leaves the department with 39 ranking officers.

The patrol officer union’s proposal also includes having 34 to 38 patrolmen serve as detectives, which would be a lateral move in salary.

The average base pay of a patrol officer is $51,321 a year, and the average base pay of a ranking officer is $63,788 annually.

The administration is asking the union that represents patrol officers to reduce the entry-level salary, which is about $37,000 annually, Williams said.

Depending on the outcome of discussions to reduce the entry-level salary, the city may be able to hire even more patrol officers when ranking officers leave the department, he added.

Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, chairwoman of the finance committee, suggested that council wait till next week to vote.

Williams said he didn’t mind but expressed concern that there are about 15 to 25 ranking officers who have enough years at the department to retire at a moment’s notice.

If they retire without legislation reducing staff levels, the city would be obligated under state law to fill their spots through promotional examinations, said Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.

Williams acknowledged it was unlikely that any would retire in the next few days. But why take that chance when council could make adjustments to the legislation at any time in the future, he asked.

Council agreed.

Former detective Sgt. Rick Alli is the only ranking officer to retire from the Youngstown force in the past two years.

Centorame says Williams is unfairly targeting the police department.

“It’s tough waking up in the morning and being on the mayor’s endangered-species list,” he said.

In response, Williams said, “I hope he doesn’t believe this stuff he’s saying. That’s not the case. I hope he’s more fulfilling the role [of union president] than actually believing that.”

A study commissioned by the city shows that the ratio of ranking officers to patrol officers in Youngstown is 1-to-1.8. The study of eight other cities shows ratios there to be one ranking officer for every 3.7 patrol officers.

If Youngstown’s proposal is fully implemented, the city’s ratio would be 1 to 3.5.

The comparison with cities in the study, particularly Kettering and Elyria, isn’t fair or accurate, Centorame said.

The city is facing a projected shortfall of about $6 million in its general fund by the end of next year and may be forced to lay off employees to balance the budget.

The city offered a buyout program to firefighters with 20 of their most senior members taking the deal.

Williams has talked of a buyout program, if it’s economically feasible, for police officers.

Now that an attrition program for ranking officers is in place, buyout options at the police department can be considered, Williams said.

skolnick@vindy.com