A Police Department spokesperson stated that if enacted, the cuts would "realign the budget more closely with actual headcount levels." The reduction would save the city $22 million per year.
But Teamsters Local 237, which represents the Agents, questioned the decision to scale back staffing as city public schools experienced an increase in weapons seizures. Eight guns were confiscated in schools between July 1 and Oct. 24, compared to just one gun seized during that same period in 2019—the last full school year before the pandemic.
“Crime up. Violence up. Guns up. So what does the public-safety Mayor do? Cut School Safety Agents? Is he kidding?” said Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesman for the union.
https://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/mayor-to-slash-560-school-safety-posts-union-questions-logic/article_29e0e952-9414-11ec-bced-1360ca6af3d2.html
