LARGO, FL -- Largo Police Chief Lester Aradi says taking more officers off the street could put his force at risk.
But, issuing furloughs is a possible solution to the city of Largo's budget woes.
City Manager Norton Craig says Largo needs to find $1.7 million in budget savings and thus proposed no pay increases for any city employee in 2010.
But, according to the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, the Largo Police Department has a contract promising them a 4% pay increase.
Craig says if the raise goes through for the Police staff, he can make up the savings through furlough days. The furlough days would require officers to take days off unpaid. That has Chief Aradi fired up.
In an email to the City Manager he wrote: "I cannot, in good conscience, agree to further staffing reductions or furloughs that remove more officers from the streets of our community."
Michael Krohn, Executive Director of the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association says officer safety and adequate staffing has become an even bigger concern for officers in Largo following the shooting death of on-duty Tampa Police Corporal Mike Roberts.
The Largo city commissioners still have to vote on a final draft of the city's budget.
