By Cynthia Fugate, Times staff reporter
The so-called '29th' man was cut from the Frankfort Police Department's budget during another round of proposed citywide budget cuts Monday.
Currently, the police department has 28 officers and had an additional $38,768 earmarked for an extra patrolman. Over the past several weeks, Mayor Chris Pippenger has been criticized by some members of the police department on how his administration has refused to commit those funds to hiring another officer.
"Because (Pippenger) would not commit to hiring the 29th man the council said we're going to cut it," said Frankfort Police Deputy Chief Randy Emery said. "We're at 28 and that's what we've been working with all year."
In total, the city has proposed cutting $240,071 from the department.
"I hate cutting money," Pippenger said after the meeting. "But the city just doesn't have any money."
Emery said the department is still short three employees because of retiring officers and explained the 2008 budget shows 31 officers, but the 2009 budget will reflect 28 officers.
"In reality, in '09 we'll be down three men compared to what it would have been in '08 if they had let me hire and replace the ones that retired," he said.
He said the department will continue to run with 28 officers and noted that three of those officers are "actively seeking employment with other police departments."
Copyright © 2024 The Frankfort Times