The City of Bakersfield continues to save big money on the back of its Police Department.  The city has cut 112 general fund positions so far, 40 from the Police Department alone.  This is more than double the positions cut from the other departments such as Parks & Recreation (19) and Public Works (19).

The Bakersfield Police Department has been slashed to 340 sworn officers, a dangerously low ratio of .8 officers per 1,000 people.  This is almost 100 officers below the Bakersfield City Council’s “goal” ratio of 1.3 officers per 1,000.

Last year 11 officers were shot at by criminals.  One officer lost his leg from a gunshot wound.  Crime is up in Bakersfield, and there are fewer and fewer officers on the street to protect us from an increasingly apathetic and violent criminal population.  The Bakersfield Police Officers Association needs your support now!