TOLEDO, OHIO -- Toledo Mayor Mike Bell has suspended recruitment for a new 2010 police class; however, the Mayor's office insists that he has not cancelled the class.
The mayor has called on those officers who were assigned to the recruitment program to be reassigned back to the street in an effort to help bolster police staffing levels. A spokeswoman for the mayor says the suspension of recruiting may only be temporary and is being put on hold as the city tries to work out a solution to the current $48 million dollar budget gap.
One of the possible ways the city might have to balance is the budget is through police layoffs. If that comes to pass, then a police class could not be held.
Toledo Police Patrolmen's Association President Dan Wagner reacted strongly to the news Friday, saying that if a new police class is not fielded soon, then Toledo will fall below minimum staffing levels for officers.
Testing for this year's police class was to take place at the end of May.
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