The Tulsa Police Department identified 17 positions that could be filled by civilians to save $500,000 a year.
Chief Chuck Jordan told the city council budget committee the positions are three equipment officers, a Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training liaison, two property room staff, two researchers, two crime analysts, a Web manager, three telephone report officers, a court liaison and a public information officer.
While a couple of those jobs are vacant, many are filled by officers on a higher pay scale than civilians would get. Jordan said several of the officers are older and would be the most qualified applicants if they want to stay in those roles.
"They're fully accepting. You know, they are dealing now with a retirement when they do this to supplement their income as well," Jordan said. "They know they're going to a much lower-paying job."
A retiring officer would be hired in the middle range of the civilian pay scale for the jobs. Jordan estimates the savings would pay for six more cops on the streets.
City Finance Director Mike Kier said it would be about half a million dollars a year cheaper, even if retiring police officers took the jobs.
"But every time I've heard the discussion, I've heard us hiring replacement officers," Kier said. "So, if they retire and take a civilian job, then we hire another officer to take their vacated job."
In order to hire civilians for those jobs and keep the number of officers currently in them for responding to calls, the police department would need another $1 million a year.
