Police Chief: Officers Showing Maturity Through Tough Times
DETROIT (WWJ) - A day after the city announced plans to make wage and benefit cuts, Detroit's Police Chief is sending a message to officers.
Police Chief Ralph Godbee saying he also appreciates his officers maturity despite the tough circumstances.
"What I want to communicate to my officers, is that, I and the Mayor and the city, we completely appreciate their trepidation about any loss of wage or loss of benefit," said Godbee to WWJ Newsradio 950's Stephanie Davis.
The cuts, a 10 percent drop in wages, and significant changes in healthcare and work rules are similar, some say, to what the Detroit Police Officers Association had agreed to in the last tentative agreement.
Godbee says he understands the frustration level and knows officers will continue to work despite the conditions. He also says, if all goes well, he hopes to be able to seek a wage increase for officers after about 18-months.
The City Council is expected to consider the plan next week, but a 9-member financial board can implement the actions without council's approval.
The city is expected to save $102 million from the cuts to its 48 bargaining units.
