Palm Springs Police Department Fire 22 Employees

The Palm Springs Police Department and city officials met with employees Tuesday morning to announce the layoffs of 22 employees.

According to the department, the effected job positions included custody officers, community service officers, records workers, animal control employees and an assistant community policing officer.

The department may also be handing out layoff notices to five sworn police officers this week, depending on whether stimulus money from the federal Department of Justice comes through.

The department is faced with a projected $7.7 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. They will be looking for additional ways to scale back operations over the next few weeks.