There is a cost associated with the layoff of police officers — even though we are now hearing that may not happen at all — and according to union representatives, that cost is almost $3 million.
A typical recruit class of 45 rookies goes through a 36-week period of academy training during which they are paid. Salaries and fringe benefits for them during this time is $2.27 million, or just over $50,000 for each one. That’s $50K for everything, not just salaries.
Two training advisers, one curriculum specialist, and a sergeant assigned to the day-to-day operations cost $238,100.
During the most recent academy class, a total of 130 instructors — including 73 police officers, 23 Sergeants, 16 civilians, 8 Lieutenants, five attorneys, one Major, one Captain and one public service aide — were used for a total of 1,440 hours of training, which is required by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for certification. Total cost of that: $228,830.
Equipment for these 45 cadets include uniforms, firearms, Tasers, ammunition for training. Cost: $205,650.
Total when added up: $2.94 million for a 36-week period.
Read related story: Carlos Gimenez scolds police director: ‘Layoffs may not come’
Maybe that is why Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos “Cry Wolf” Gimenez et al are working so hard to find a way to keep them and not waste $3 million for no good reason. After all, the reductions went from 228 on Wednesday to 100 on Thursday and that was without the previously required extension on snap backs in concessions from the union and without the health care savings that Gimenez and his administration were anticipating.
By next week, Ladra thinks its safe to say, there won’t be any positions slated for layoffs at all.
Again, the cry wolf scenario did not pan out. And one has to wonder, is the mayor just playing with us? Is this a way to avoid us asking for him to replace the 250 to 300 officers we’ve lost in recent years?
Miami-Dade budget cuts: Cost to fire 45 cops is $3 million added by Ladra on
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