The Associated Press
TULSA, Okla. — The Fraternal Order of Police in Tulsa have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that Mayor Dewey Bartlett says would have prevented the layoff of 155 officers.
Officer David Turner, representing FOP Lodge 93, confirmed Wednesday night that 91 percent of the union’s membership took part in the 24-hour vote and that 90 percent rejected the mayor’s proposal. He said he could not release the specific vote tally.
The layoffs are set to go into effect Friday, dropping the force’s manpower from about 808 to 653, unless the FOP and city administrators cut a last-minute deal.
“It’s with great sadness that we are going to see 155 of our brothers and sisters leave at the end of the week,” Turner said.
While officers had issues with the proposal, he said, the main reason for voting it down seemed to be the “lack of confidence and trust in the mayor’s administration.”
Most officers thought the city would be back later to try to take more away from them, Turner said. There is still hope that something will happen to prevent the layoffs from taking place.
Bartlett said the vote’s result is regrettable.
“The people of Tulsa were let down tonight by the very people they hired and trained to protect them,” he said.
But the only thing that will keep 155 officers from having to leave the force, Bartlett said, is for the union to reconsider the same proposal, which calls for 5.2 percent salary cuts, eight unpaid furlough days next fiscal year, no step pay increases and other concessions.
“If they don’t re-vote and change their minds, to those who are laid off, I will wish them well and best of luck in finding new jobs,” he said.
Bartlett said he is not worried about the functioning or efficiency of the Police Department with so many officers gone.
“We are going to be just fine,” he said, adding that the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office can assist the police if necessary.
The mayor said he doesn’t understand why the police would not trust him or his administration.
“I’ve always spoken to them very directly, and I’ve never mislead them at all,” he said. “So I have no idea where that could come from.”
The Police Department’s budget hole makes up $3.5 million of the total $10.4 million the mayor must cut from the city’s general fund due to revenue shortfalls.
