City Of Sapulpa Recalls Layoff Notices For Police Officers

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

SAPULPA, OK --- The City of Sapulpa and the Fraternal Order of Police reached a tentative agreement over concessions late Thursday afternoon. The agreement will be submitted to the membership and city council for approval.

The city had handed out pink slips to five police officers.  The Fraternal Order of Police believed the layoffs were avoidable.

The FOP has met with city officials for several months now in hopes of negotiating a contract that would save the city money and save jobs.

During these negotiations, the FOP was asked for concessions of about $328,000. The FOP says they were able to whittle out $330,000. That goal was reached by cuts from areas like health insurance coverage changes, increased premiums, department budget cuts, and reductions in benefits.

"Several people are nervous. They've entertained the idea of looking elsewhere for employment just because of the stress involved," said James Lowry, Vice President, Sapulpa FOP 94. "Some of them have large families. They are the soul income providers for their families and that's pretty much a heavy burden. "

"Job security is one of the benefits that attract officers to law enforcement," Lieutenant Jamie P. Noe Sr.. "We all have a driving need to protect and serve but job security is one of the things that comes with government jobs."

For three of the five officers, this was the third time in a year that they received layoff notices.

Sapulpa police officers weren't the only ones getting pink slips.

Four Sapulpa firefighters were given 30 days layoff notice earlier this week. The department was asked to cut a total of $500,000 from its budget.  But the union only agreed to $389,000 in concessions.

7/20/2010 Related Story: Sapulpa Firefighters Union Responds To Layoffs