Budget costraints affecting Warren police, firefighters

WARREN — Police Chief Tim Bowers said the city “desperately” needs to keep his department at its current staffing level of 61 officers and has urged the city administration to replace three officers retiring by Jan. 1.

Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin, meanwhile, says it’s likely that retirements will result in three to four fewer policemen in 2010 and 10 fewer firefighters unless labor costs are reduced during negotiations or the city secures additional grant money.

“They’re both essential,” Franklin said of the police and fire departments. “We understand the concern about staffing levels.”

But the city needs to cut costs to balance its 2010 budget, and the administration believes leaving vacant positions vacant is one of the ways to do that, Franklin said.

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