Safety issues to be raised in face of police layoffs

Providence will lay off 60-80 police officers due to failed negotiations between the city and police union. Facing a $110 million deficit, officials sought $6 million in concessions from the union to help close the gap. Constituents are worried about the loss of community-based policing and the seasonal summer rise in crime. Some police officers also predicted the crime rate would increase and remaining officers would have inadequate backup. City officials insisted that police services would not decline, although they did not have a plan to absorb the losses

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Safety issues raised in face of police layoffs – Providence Journal