Rehired Police Officers Returning to Work
February 24, 2010
Good news for the citizens of Tulsa! As of next week, Tulsans will see more police officers back on the beat due to the ability to rehire the police officers using federal grant funds.
Interim Police Chief Chuck Jordan explained today that thirty-five officers were in the process of filling out employment paperwork after accepting the Police Departments offer. The offer included a fifteen day consideration window which was waived by the officers could have help up them returning to work and protecting the citizens of Tulsa.
Interim Police Chief Chuck Jordan stated, “We had to get everybody to agree, and everybody did agree that they wanted to come back as soon as possible” and went on to say, “The ones I’ve talked to, it was a pretty easy choice. They’ve been ready and waiting to come back since the day they were laid off.”
The Justice Assistance Grant, which was originally to be used for police related projects, will now be used for the officer’s salaries and benefits. At this time, the City Council has to pass a budget amendment, which is related to the grant, however, the Interim chief is confident that the process will go without a hitch.
If the amendment is approved, the officers will have to first report to the Training Center where they will pick up their new assignments and equipment.
Among the thirty-five officers is Jeanne MacKenzie who stated the officers were told to report to the center on Monday for outfitting. Prior to the layoffs MacKenzie patrolled the south side of Tulsa working the night shift and had been an officer for close to five years. She along with the other officers was laid off last month. She stated there are mixed emotions among the officers that are being rehired.
Most of the officers are happy to go back to work but are still concerned over the financial prospects of Tulsa, she explained. “We’re all excited to have our jobs back, but we’re still careful with what we’re doing,” MacKenzie said. “It’s tough to be upbeat and I think a lot of people are still unsure.”
The grant will only fund the positions for a short 17 months. Officials are in the process of looking for other sources of money to pay for the 35 jobs when the grant money runs out. Interim chief explained that layoffs are still possible for the future, however, if Tulsa’s sales-tax revenue stays level or picks up, there should be “no concerns at all” about losing the rehired officers.
Twenty-nine of the rehired officers will be returning to patrol with six entering investigations. The Traffic Enforcement Unit will be back in service.
At this time, there are still negotiations between the mayor’s office and the police union. If an agreement can be reached 89 of the 124 officers that were part of the group laid off last month would be able to be rehired. Interim chief Jordan would not comment on the negotiations. “That’s really a difficult process, where both sides have very valid concerns. That’s not something I would gamble on to say how it’s going to go,” Jordan said.
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2 Comments to Rehired Police Officers Returning to Work
Comments
That is good news but would be better if all the police officers were back.
yes good step, better experienced stuff than hire expensive young ones!
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