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TOLEDO, OHIO -- Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre has given his analysis of how a reduction in department staffing, by over 100 officers, will impact the city of Toledo by mid-April.
In a memo to Mayor Mike Bell sent Mar. 8, Navarre outlined organizational changes that would have to be made within the department should layoffs occur. On Monday, Mayor Bell and the City of Toledo sent lay off notices to 125 Toledo Police officers, letting them know that their positions would be eliminated as of Apr. 15, 2010.
With the impending Toledo Police cuts and the expectation of an additional loss due to retirement, Chief Navarre foresees the number of police officers on the streets to be reduced to 440 by Dec. 31, 2010. The number is down from 591 officers currently sworn-in. "Having 440 sworn officers at year's end would equate to a ratio of 1.38 per 1,000 people in our city. This ratio is dangerously low and would seriously impact the ability of our police department to keep this community safe," wrote Chief Navarre. He also stated that laying off 100 police officers would require the city department to forfeit all remaining funding brought in by the COPS Hiring Grant, resulting in a loss of over $5 million. The COPS grant was accepted in the summer of 2009.
In addition to a decreased police presence on Toledo streets, Navarre says the following are just some of the changes that will occur as of April 15:
Toledo Police will no longer respond to non-injury accidents.
No Safe-T-City program - Summer 2010
Closing of Northwest District Station
Over a dozen officers assigned to TPS/Washington Local Schools will be reassigned to field operations.
Reduction in gang unit officers
Community Services Officer program to be eliminated
A large number of officers will be transferred from investigative, vice/narcotics, joint terrorism task force, and other services to field operations in order to put more officers out on the streets. However, Chief Navarre feels response times will increase dramatically and make the department's ability to monitor illegal drug-trafficking, prostitution and vice-related activities even more difficult.
"These layoffs and transfer of detectives back to uniform will virtually eliminate our ability to investigate anything other than very serious crimes," wrote Chief Navarre. "Daily violence will undoubtedly increase without the officers in the schools and with a reduction in the specialized Gang Unit. The loss of the Community Services Officer program means that no officers will be available to attend Block Watch meetings and serve as liaisons between community groups and the police department. Burglaries increased 23% in 2009. This trend will continue and likely worsen."
