Protestors: Tulsa Police, Fire Needed In Any Economy

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- About 100 Tulsans braved the cold at 41st and Yale to rally support for police officers and firefighters.

"Citizens for a Safe Tulsa" organized Saturday's demonstration. 

The group says Tulsans don't want fewer cops and firefighters on the streets. Demonstrators say they understand the budget is complicated, but want city leaders to find other alternatives.

 "We understand that we're in a down economy and that we all need to sacrifice together, but to pull 100 cops and 100 firefighters off the force is no way to get other businesses and people to move to Tulsa," said Stan May, Firefighters Union President.

"If we don't feel safe now, people aren't going to feel safe moving their businesses here."

The city council could vote this week to sell off some equipment and shuffle money around to save jobs.

12/30/2009 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor, Public Safety Unions At Odds Over Budget Cuts

Mayor Dewey Bartlett calls the plan "a short-term fix," however, and ultimately he has the final say.