Detroit Mayor Proposes 754 Layoffs, Fire and Police to be Cut

April 12, 2005
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on Tuesday presented a draft budget that includes 754 additional layoffs, including some in the police and fire departments.

DETROIT (AP) -- Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on Tuesday presented a draft budget that includes 754 additional layoffs, including some in the police and fire departments.

Detroit has been struggling with a deficit of more than $300 million, and some have predicted the city could end up in receivership.

The 754 layoffs are in addition to more than 900 job cuts that Kilpatrick announced in January. At that time, he said he had no plans to touch police officers.

In his address to City Council on Tuesday, Kilpatrick proposed reducing the number of commanders and inspectors in the department. In addition, existing classes at the police academy would be suspended, he said.

''Not one police officer who is out there patrolling the streets today will be laid off,'' Kilpatrick said.

However, he said that promise could be kept only if the officers' union agrees to renegotiate benefits.

In addition, Kilpatrick is proposing 61 layoffs in the fire department and 47 in EMS.

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