"That's my understanding too from talking to police officials," said John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police. "It's upsetting, it's disappointing and it's dangerous."
The department had already been asked to cut $4 million from the budget when, sources say, they got word at a closed door meeting that they had to find another $6 million to cut.
On top of that, city council cut $3 million from the department in the last budget, for a grand total $13 million in cuts.
"We're already down to the bone," McNesby said. "How long does it take before somebody gets hurt?"
At event on Tuesday night marking the 75th anniversary of the Mann Music Center, Mayor Nutter called reports that the police department had been asked to cut $10 million from the budget "pure speculation."
"We're looking at a variety of scenarios," Mayor Nutter said.
McNesby said he's hearing something different.
"The calls that I received today were $10 million dollars additional in cuts - and not from one source but from three or four high ranking officials," said McNesby "The cuts that they're being asked to make, they don't know where to get it."
It's no secret that the Nutter Administration has been wrestling with some serious shortfalls in revenue from the budget that was previously passed by city council, and from shortfalls in terms of taxes that were collected.
"Part of the issue here is cash management, cash flow and actual cash and at the end of the year," Mayor Nutter said. "We have to make sure that we don't run out."
"I understand that there is no money, but you're not going to get the money from public safety," said McNesby. "Enough is enough."
McNesby says crime may be down now, but he fears it will go up if any such cuts are implemented. He is hoping city council will reconvene this summer and hold hearings to make sure any such cuts do not take place.
