APD cadet class under fire

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Because of upcoming budget cuts, the president of Austin's Police Association is predicting a shortage of police cadets, which could leave a gap in the department's staffing levels for years to come.

Tasked with slashing $9 million, about 3.5 percent of the police department's $233 million budget, Police Chief Art Acevedo has previously said the September 2009 police cadet class could be on the table for cuts.

"I think it's a safe bet this high-dollar item is going to be this cadet class," said Austin Police Association President Wayne Vincent.

It is something Vincent said could be devastating to the city and its public safety if the cadets decide to take another employment route in the meantime- because some police cadets have families and need jobs now to sustain them.

"If it's delayed throughout the budget year in 2010, I can't see how they would stick around," said Vincent. "We'd have to start from scratch."

APA President Wayne Vincent talks about possible class delay

Vincent said Wednesday he is concerned about cutting the number of Austin's 1,600 officers on city streets. The cadet class would have resulted in the hiring of about 90 officers, in addition to 39 the department would have authorized to keep up with the city's growth.

City officials have already delayed the class that was slated to begin March 2009 and runs 32 weeks long.

Retirements are also a major factor in decision-making. Vincent said the department is set to lose more than 200 officers in October.

Austin City Manager Marc Ott recommended further and deeper cuts to many city departments in late April because of falling sales tax revenue and development fees, something Vincent said is important for the city to address.

"We need to find a long-term strategy to fund core services with a stable source of revenue, other than just sales tax," said Vincent.

The police chief, along with other department heads, drafted his list of possible budget cuts last month and submitted them to Ott's office last Friday. The City of Austin has yet to release the full list, saying the city manager and his staff are still reviewing the list of possible cuts.

Meanwhile, Austin's Fire Department could have fewer arson investigators next year if proposed budget cuts by Austin's fire chief take hold. AFD Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr proposed just more than $4.3 million in cuts to the department Thursday in a memo sent to battalion chiefs.

Among the proposed cuts is reducing a battalion chief in the arson investigation unit at a savings of $131,058. To save another $460,530, Kerr also proposed reducing the amount of lieutenant fire investigators from 10 to six.

In the memo, Kerr said the cuts would reduce the arson arrest clearance rate, which means the department would make less arrests.

The public is set to hear more about the proposed budget cuts Monday June 8, when the city manager is set to update the city council.

"People that understand that safety is a priority need to contact their city council members, need to contact the city manager," said Vincent. "They need to show up to these community forums when they're talking about the budget and let it be known what their priorities are."

The City of Austin has also scheduled public meetings to discuss the budget.

They will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the following places:

• Wednesday, June 10: Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Drive
• Monday, June 15: Gus Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane
• Tuesday, June 16: Tony Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones Road