St. Louis (KSDK) - Budget cuts will mean fewer police officers on the streets of St. Louis.
The Police Board approved a budget Wednesday that will eliminate 80 of the city's 1,300 officers through attrition.
Fewer police officers on the street doesn't sit well with some city residents.
"I just can't believe it. I can't believe they are going to have less, not more. We have drive-bys, you know, a half a block from our house not too long ago and attempted robberies and there are not enough police officers in the city as it stands, with 80 more going it's just not right," said city of St. Louis resident Lloyd Eggleston.
The city says it needs to cut the force to make up for ballooning expenses. The department won't lay off anyone, but will cut positions as officers quit or retire.
Thirty of the jobs will be lost because a federal grant program ends this year.
The city says the cuts are needed to help pay for officers pensions.
Mayor Slay says the department is going to have to come up with $8 million in next year's budget just to pay retirees, money the mayor says could pay for 160 police officers instead.
The board, the police retirement system, and the officers themselves have been working to find a solution to the problem of sky-rocketing pension costs.
Jeff Roorda with the Police Officer's Association says they are "dead set opposed" to losing officers, especially he says, since the department is moving to a new headquarters building.
Mayor Slay said Wednesday if the Board of Alderman passes the firefighter's pension reform, he'll try to use that money to hire more police officers.
While the police board approved cutting 80 positions, it did okay a pay raise for officers. Pay was frozen, though, for members who are sergeants and above.
