Johnson Opposes Police Cutbacks

Sacramento Democratic mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson today said he opposes the new 50 percent reduction in police patrols forced by Mayor Heather Fargo’s cuts in the city budget and called on the City Council to restore funds that would put more police back on the street.

“Sacramento’s police ought to be concerned about saving lives, not gasoline,” said Johnson. “What does it say about this Mayor when she is more concerned about counting trees, cat cages, and raising salaries for top management than keeping police on the street and fire stations open? This is Exhibit A that Mayor Fargo is out of touch with the priorities of our citizens.”

Johnson said that the Mayor and City Council should take action next Tuesday to put an early end to the reduction in police patrols. Sacramento Police Chief ordered the two-person patrols, which reduce the police presence by half in the city, as part of an experiment to save money for the department.

“We’ve already seen the destruction caused in property by the cutback in fire station brownouts ordered by the Mayor,” said Johnson. “Crime is at unacceptable levels and it is inevitable that there will be more crime because of this action.”

According to FBI statistics, crime is up 55 percent in Sacramento during the past seven years. The Sacramento Police Department recently reported in a rise in several categories of violent crimes as well.