Nearly 100 protest layoffs in Naperville's police force

Naperville police officers and their supporters showed up to a city council meeting en masse Tuesday to protest the recent elimination of 10 sworn officer positions from the department.

The group said the cuts will be harmful to public safety but city officials argued they would not have made the cuts if that was the case and that the city is in a time of "dire need" with regard to its budget.

Earlier this month, the city eliminated 49 positions citywide, including 27 that were already vacant. The move saved the city $3.6 million for the upcoming fiscal year that once had a budget hole of $14.1 million.

Ten of the jobs eliminated were sworn police positions - both vacant and filled. Of those, two were officers who had just graduated from the police academy days before they learned their jobs had been cut. In addition, the department's front desk will be closed on nights and weekends beginning in April.

Chief David Dial said he reorganized the department and eliminated a deputy chief position, a commander, an officer from the drug unit/tactical team, an evidence technician, two officers that man the front desk and four elementary school resource officers that work in the downtown in the summer. He stressed he did not make any cuts from the patrol division.

Resident Lisa Grek called the cuts a "careless, reckless decision."

"It seems the city would rather save a few bucks than provide the appropriate amount of public safety its citizens, its taxpayers and the many visitors that come to Naperville enjoy," she said.

Grek was among more than 80 people including police officers, firefighters, residents and other city employees who gathered at the meeting to show their displeasure over the cuts. Ten spoke during public forum, at times prompting heated exchanges with councilmen.

Councilman Richard Furstenau called the city's budget problems a time of "dire need" and said the city has always treated its officers well. He admonished police for not being more willing to make concessions in the negotiations that are currently ongoing.

"I think it's about time everybody falls in line and helps out," he said. "Quite frankly I don't see that coming from the police department."

Vince Clark, president of the FOP Lodge 42 said the union has agreed on several issues and that it also has ideas on how to fill the budget hole without cutting officers.

Clark also said the department's staffing level is 1.1 officers per 1,000 residents, which falls below the national average of 2.3 officers per 1,000 residents, according to FBI statistics.

Councilman Grant Wehrli said statistics can be manipulated and asked Clark if Naperville's crime rate justifies more officers.

Clark responded that they can't predict when crime will happen and prefer to be proactive rather than reactive.

Councilman Jim Boyajian reminded the crowd councilmen live in the community too and are just as concerned about public safety.

"There is nothing we have done to put the citizens of Naperville at risk," he said.