Massive budget deficit may force painful police cuts in Sacramento

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By Ryan Lillis and Kim Minugh | Sacramento Bee

The Sacramento Police Department is proposing service cuts to help the city close its massive budget gap that could lead to longer waits for 911 calls to be answered, delays in some violent crime investigations and a decrease in proactive enforcement against drugs and gangs.

The cuts, laid out in a memo Police Chief Rick Braziel sent to City Manager Ray Kerridge on Tuesday, will help the department come up with the final $3.6 million it needs to reach the 8 percent reduction ordered for its budget.

Faced with a city budget shortfall of $58 million, officials cut the department's budget by $16 million this year. The department has lost dozens of positions since last year and is experimenting with doubling up officers in patrol cars to save on fuel and maintenance costs.

Read the complete story at sacbee.com

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