Sac PD Hopes To Add 13 Officers Next Fiscal Year

The Sacramento City Police Department's new budget includes new officers for different departments, but it will lose at least four positions.

At Sacramento City Council tonight, the department will ask for permission to expand by 13 officers starting in July. 

Police Chief Sam Somers says the department is rebuilding after years of layoffs.  He says the rebuilding follows a geographic-based model.

"What that is having a smaller part of the city that is basically owned by a lieutenant that has it 24-7," he says. "Because, under the concept that all policing isn't the same across the city. The issues that impact downtown aren't the same issues that impact Natomas."

The department's proposed budget is $124 million for the next fiscal year.  If the City Council approves, The department will create 17 new positions for beat cops, gang units, traffic enforcement, and investigations.  The department would lose four positions because of a loss of grant funding.

With the addition of Measure U tax money to its budget, the department says it will have hired 116 new officers by July first and 150 officers by January first 2015.

The department also wants $426,000 this year to assume command of the City's Emergency Operation Center.