Fort Wayne Police Department is once again a target of proposed budget cuts

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Fort Wayne Police Department will go a second year without new recruits.

"All of these efforts are focused on helping reduce crime in the City of Fort Wayne, and that could have an impact," said Chief Rusty York of the Fort Wayne Police Department.

The department is currently 21 officers short of its maximum staff  with more set to retire this year. A class of 21 recruits costs the department around $1.3 million.

"If you go any lower with personnel, then we have to look at what calls we respond to," York said.

However, he does not think the 2013 proposed budget will affect response time. The budget proposal also allots $3 million for 70 new police cars which is 20 fewer than needed after the department didn't receive any new cars this year.

In addition, Fort Wayne police operate using a home fleet which allows officers with two or more years in the department to take their cruisers home which saves two hours of patrol time a day.

"We're good," York said. "We'll be good for 2013. If we went a couple three years without cars, we would have to go back to a fleet which would impact the way we do business."

City Council members are working to provide the necessary resources to the police and fire departments without having to raise taxes for residents.

"I am concerned that we give them the proper funding, the proper equipment, the proper tools so that they can do their job," Paddock said. "I think we've done pretty well, and I think this budget will see that through."

Although there's no imminent danger for next year, officials say changes will need to be made for 2014 and after.

"Going forward especially to 2014, there's going to have to be some decisions made within the community on what kind of funding it's going to take to maintain some of these services," York said.

Fort Wayne City Council will discuss and vote on the final budget on October 23rd.