Anchorage has about $2.6 million in federal stimulus money coming to shore up public safety. Chief of police Rob Heun says that money will go to fill budget gaps and allow the force to retain officers. In other words, no layoffs.
That's good news for city residents wondering if their police force, which has been gaining officers over the last five years, would start losing them due to the $9 million shortfall in the city budget.
Every city department has marching orders to cut and save, including the police department -- and that's as it should be. Every large organization builds up some inefficiencies over time.
"I'm scrubbing my budget," Heun said Thursday. But with Uncle Sam's help, he shouldn't have to cut any sworn officers in 2009.
"It gives us some breathing room," he said.
That breathing room also should help Mayor Dan Sullivan in his review of the department. He plans an independent study of police staffing and operations, to ensure officers and resources are being used efficiently and effectively. It's best if that review proceeds without the specter of layoffs. Instead, it can focus on ways to save money on overtime, procedures and equipment.
Heun said APD will have about $380,000 of the federal money for 2009, with the rest allocated over the remainder of the three-year grant.
Avoiding police layoffs is the right way to go with this money given the city's financial straits. Police recruitment took a hit with the cancellation of the March academy, and Heun said no academies are in the works right now. That's frustrating for a city that came within nine officers of its five-year goal of adding 93 to the force.
But Anchorage still has 71 more officers now than in 2003 (for a total of 394), and that means a safer city -- one of Mayor Dan Sullivan's stated goals. Heun said that in his 26 years with the Anchorage police, he's never seen layoffs. This is no time to start. May the force be with us.
BOTTOM LINE: Public safety stimulus money will help keep Anchorage police ranks full.