Mayor's Office Working On New Proposal For Tulsa Police Union

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The mayor's office says a new proposal for the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police should be ready by mid-Monday. 

It's the latest news in a string of developments aimed to save hundreds of city jobs.

155 police officers were given notice Friday they would lose their jobs at the end of the month. The new proposal is just one more step in an up and down ride to balance the city budget.

The mayor's latest proposal to the police union would call for 33 people to be laid off, but his chief of staff says they are working to get that number down to zero. 

Friday was a painful day for Tulsa's men and women in blue as 155 officers learned their jobs were being cut.

"I'll figure out something. Probably won't be in law enforcement," said John Gillert, Tulsa Police.

"Very nerve-wracking to be a new parent, but to find out that you're going to have to deliver that child without health insurance is terrifying," said Jerard Lindsey.

Two separate meetings on Friday laid out the plan if the union and city could not come to an agreement. 

The police union's latest proposal to the mayor would eliminate pay for overtime and give officers comp days instead.

"We've fixed his problem and he refuses to take it," said Ryan Perkins, Tulsa FOP.

But the mayor is looking for a deal to get the city to the end of the year and says a 5-percent pay cut is the way to do it.

"They discussed some parts or some other proposals that I didn't think was appropriate. I shouldn't say that, I didn't think were in the best interests in the city of Tulsa," said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

The fire union is also looking for a deal.

"I have to have trust in them, then something eventually is going to come up and we're gonna be able to vote," said Teodoro Morales, Tulsa Fire Department.

That vote may come very soon as a tentative agreement is in place that also includes a 5-percent cut in pay.

1/22/2010  Related Story: Firefighter's Union has Three Days To Review, Decide On New Agreement

Besides union negotiations, the city has a new chief of police. Chuck Jordan is in after the mayor accepted Ron Palmer's two-week-old notice of resignation.

"My message is going to be that we've got to get past this," said Chuck Jordan, Tulsa Interim Police Chief.

1/22/2010  Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Decides To Change Leadership Of Police Department

It's a busy time in Tulsa as jobs and money are on the line.

Negotiations are scheduled to continue all week.

1/22/2010  Related Story: Tulsa City Council Says Mayor, Unions Have Put Them On The Sidelines On Budget

1/21/2010  Related Story: With Layoffs Looming, Tulsa is Changing Police & Fire Assignments