It’s a flier that tells it all, rank-and-file Manteca Police officers feel, as they deliver them to the city residents.
“Keep Manteca safe, say ‘no’ to police layoffs,” was the direct message they were leaving as teams of 10 started pounding the sidewalks.
Manteca Police Officers Association (MPOA) members took their frustrations over the pending layoff of cops in the community to residents throughout the city Friday night – door by door.
Off-duty officers first handed out their informational pieces in neighborhoods surrounding London Avenue in the northwest sector of Manteca. Association members said they plan to leave their fliers at the 22,000 homes within the city prior to Tuesday’s City Council meeting when some 16 police officers are expected to be losing their jobs.
The MPOA – along with all other employee groups – were offered two options to help the city bridge a remaining $2.5 million deficit this budget year after the city secures a loan to replace property tax revenue swiped by the state. It was forgo negotiated pay raises for 2011 and 2012, suspend annual uniform allowances of $1,000 for two years, and pay more into their retirement out of their paychecks or have layoffs within their employee bargaining group.
All other employee groups voted to take the cut in future compensation in addition to the 4 percent pay cut they are already receiving through furlough days. Under agreements with the city, those groups will not face layoffs to help cover the remaining $2.5 million deficit. Even if the MPOA agreed to those terms, the city would still have to make additional cuts to cover $700,000 as the compensation adjustment only cuts $1.8 million.
If the MPOA holds on to its position that they are being unfairly forced to take a pay cut, 16 officers would be laid off initially. Four of those officers would eventually be hired back with federal stimulus money
The Manteca City Council is expected to add their stamp of approval to the layoffs based on the MPOA’s position due to the downturn in the economy, much of which has been caused by the state taking city funds away.
Those off duty are also planning to be in force handing out fliers at this weekend’s Pumpkin Fair in downtown Manteca and be available to talk with members of the community. In the flier they are asking residents who support them to show their support in person at this Tuesday night’s city council session.
Friday night officers said they were not engaging residents at their doors and attempting to sway them in their thinking, only dropping off their informational material. However when residents came out of their homes or were standing in their yards with questions, the officers replied.
“This is our starting point,” one officer said while passing out literature on London Avenue. “We will be doing this until the council changes its mind.”
The first sector of the city they were canvassing was from Airport Way to Union Road and Lathrop Road to Louise Avenue.
Officers found numbers of people in the front yards as the sun was setting who said they were totally unaware that there was a plan to layoff members of the Manteca Police Force.
One man standing by his pickup truck said this sounds like what happened to officers in Stockton and it shouldn’t happen here – not wanting to realize the consequences suffered in both Stockton and Modesto.
Manteca sits in the middle of those two cities and has remained relatively safe, he pointed out to the MPOA members handing out their fliers.
The fliers cited crime statistics for the 2008 year where police covered some 32,000 calls for service and made 4,300 arrests. They noted there were 1,146 burglaries resulting in $6.3 million in stolen property -- $2.4 million of that was recovered.
Also listed in the flier were the names of the five council members and their e-mail addresses, urging residents to contact them on the internet with their concerns. The e-mail address of City Manager Steve Pinkerton was also included.
“The citizens of Manteca do not deserve to have police services cut, especially after passing the Measure M public safety tax in 2006,” the association stresses.
In addition there were 709 vehicle collisions during the 2008 year with 314 DUI arrests. A total of 10,649 citations were issued by officers. Three of the five Manteca motorcycle units are being mothballed in the process.
Several residents on Friday volunteered to help police officers spread the word about their situation. They also offered their phone numbers to be reminded to attend Tuesday’s 7 p.m. council meeting at 1001 W. Center St.
“Keep Manteca safe, say ‘no’ to police layoffs,” was the direct message they were leaving as teams of 10 started pounding the sidewalks.
Manteca Police Officers Association (MPOA) members took their frustrations over the pending layoff of cops in the community to residents throughout the city Friday night – door by door.
Off-duty officers first handed out their informational pieces in neighborhoods surrounding London Avenue in the northwest sector of Manteca. Association members said they plan to leave their fliers at the 22,000 homes within the city prior to Tuesday’s City Council meeting when some 16 police officers are expected to be losing their jobs.
The MPOA – along with all other employee groups – were offered two options to help the city bridge a remaining $2.5 million deficit this budget year after the city secures a loan to replace property tax revenue swiped by the state. It was forgo negotiated pay raises for 2011 and 2012, suspend annual uniform allowances of $1,000 for two years, and pay more into their retirement out of their paychecks or have layoffs within their employee bargaining group.
All other employee groups voted to take the cut in future compensation in addition to the 4 percent pay cut they are already receiving through furlough days. Under agreements with the city, those groups will not face layoffs to help cover the remaining $2.5 million deficit. Even if the MPOA agreed to those terms, the city would still have to make additional cuts to cover $700,000 as the compensation adjustment only cuts $1.8 million.
If the MPOA holds on to its position that they are being unfairly forced to take a pay cut, 16 officers would be laid off initially. Four of those officers would eventually be hired back with federal stimulus money
The Manteca City Council is expected to add their stamp of approval to the layoffs based on the MPOA’s position due to the downturn in the economy, much of which has been caused by the state taking city funds away.
Those off duty are also planning to be in force handing out fliers at this weekend’s Pumpkin Fair in downtown Manteca and be available to talk with members of the community. In the flier they are asking residents who support them to show their support in person at this Tuesday night’s city council session.
Friday night officers said they were not engaging residents at their doors and attempting to sway them in their thinking, only dropping off their informational material. However when residents came out of their homes or were standing in their yards with questions, the officers replied.
“This is our starting point,” one officer said while passing out literature on London Avenue. “We will be doing this until the council changes its mind.”
The first sector of the city they were canvassing was from Airport Way to Union Road and Lathrop Road to Louise Avenue.
Officers found numbers of people in the front yards as the sun was setting who said they were totally unaware that there was a plan to layoff members of the Manteca Police Force.
One man standing by his pickup truck said this sounds like what happened to officers in Stockton and it shouldn’t happen here – not wanting to realize the consequences suffered in both Stockton and Modesto.
Manteca sits in the middle of those two cities and has remained relatively safe, he pointed out to the MPOA members handing out their fliers.
The fliers cited crime statistics for the 2008 year where police covered some 32,000 calls for service and made 4,300 arrests. They noted there were 1,146 burglaries resulting in $6.3 million in stolen property -- $2.4 million of that was recovered.
Also listed in the flier were the names of the five council members and their e-mail addresses, urging residents to contact them on the internet with their concerns. The e-mail address of City Manager Steve Pinkerton was also included.
“The citizens of Manteca do not deserve to have police services cut, especially after passing the Measure M public safety tax in 2006,” the association stresses.
In addition there were 709 vehicle collisions during the 2008 year with 314 DUI arrests. A total of 10,649 citations were issued by officers. Three of the five Manteca motorcycle units are being mothballed in the process.
Several residents on Friday volunteered to help police officers spread the word about their situation. They also offered their phone numbers to be reminded to attend Tuesday’s 7 p.m. council meeting at 1001 W. Center St.
