A nasty battle is brewing between the city of Chula Vista and it's police officers as the city struggles with a 20-million dollar budget deficit.
The Chula Vista Police Officers Association is now responding to a proposal approved by the city council on Tuesday to lay off 23-officers. The association says it's 'irresponsible." The cuts would eliminate Chula Vista's K-9 units, and two drug and gang enforcement units.
"To suggest slashing away such major and critically important enforcement programs such as drugs, gangs and our K-9 unit, we feel is wholly irresponsible from a public safety perspective," said Phil Collum of the Chula Vista Police Officer's Association.
In an e-mailed statement, the city said the reductions were identified three months ago, and it's not accurate to imply those cuts have been made. A city spokeswoman said the city has been working with employee groups about giving up their four percent raises this year and next year.
She said management has forfeited their raises, and this week two employee groups who had been in negotiations with the City, have done the same. As a result, some layoffs have been avoided.
But the POA spokesman says it's not clear that an agreement to give up pay raises will necessarily save police officer jobs.
