FOP Says Latest Offer By Tulsa Mayor 'Is A Step Backwards'

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett's final offer may not keep 155 police officers from losing their jobs, according to the FOP.

Some police officers say the price to keep those officers may be too high.

The police union seems baffled by the mayor's latest offer. They say instead of the two sides moving closer together, they seem to be moving further apart.

Last week, pink slips. This week, a last-minute reprieve.

"They have options of agreeing to no layoffs. And we think we've fulfilled a responsibility, we've done it in a very good way, and we've done it in a way that's very fair," Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said.

Not according to the FOP.

"We received something that makes it much more difficult to save those officers," said Ryan Perkins, Tulsa FOP.

Tulsa's Fraternal Order of Police say they were ready to take Friday's deal to their membership for a vote. A meeting is planned for Tuesday evening.

That included a 5% pay cut and concessions on comp time and take home cars, Then they heard the mayor had another plan.

"Seems like every time we take a step forward, they take a step back," Perkins said.

To save 155 police jobs, plus three more eliminated last fall, the mayor wants the police union to agree to pay cuts and furloughs for this year and next year.

1/15/2010 Related story: Tulsa Mayor Says Tentative Agreements Reached With Police & Fire Unions

He also wants to change how officers are deployed, which he says will save money.

Perkins says no matter how you add it up officers will lose, lose pay, lose days off, lose comp time.

"He wants more and more concessions and unfortunately I'm afraid that our membership is growing weary of this game that he's playing," Perkins said.

Perkins believes the latest proposal has a slimmer chance of getting passed than previous offers.

"Each one of them will get to thoughtfully consider their careers, their futures, and the safety of the citizens of Tulsa and make a very difficult decision," Perkins said.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett says the bottom line is his plan saves jobs, all of them.

However, the police union says the goal line keeps changing and signing on the dotted line, doesn't mean those jobs won't be on the chopping block in the future.