The S.B. police union and brass united to inform Santa Barbara
City Council’s Finance Committee that the city needs more cops on
the beat. Police union president Detective Mike McGrew (left) noted
that the number of sworn officers has dropped from 151 to 126 since
9/11. In the past year, 20 officers have left, two-thirds of whom
have taken jobs with other departments, he said. Another 26 will
retire within two years. McGrew, Barbara Barker (middle) — of Human
Resources — and Deputy Chief Rich Glaus (right) outlined a shortage
of officers borne of high housing costs, long commutes, and a
profound lack of interest in the law enforcement profession. While
Glaus and Sansone discussed programs to increase recruitment and
retention, McGrew charged that Santa Barbara officers are paid 9
percent less on average than their equals in comparable
communities. The union plans to request a 10 percent raise.

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