(AP) -- Officials plan to lay off 57 police officers in Flint by the end of the month, a move that has some people concerned about public safety. Flint police sergeants union president Rick Hetherington says police will have their hands full just dealing with day-to-day crime, and he wonders what will happen when officers have to call for backup.
The Flint Journal reports the layoffs set for March 25 would leave one officer for every 900 residents. The national average for cities the size of Flint is about one officer for every 526 residents.
Mayor Dayne Walling announced the layoffs last month after contract negotiations with public safety unions came to a standstill. He says public safety relies on "smart policing," not just the size of the payroll.
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