Police fight planned job cuts in C. Indiana city

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - Police union members are protesting planned layoffs from the police force in their central Indiana city.

Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith has proposed a new city budget that cuts seven police officer and 20 firefighter positions.

Fraternal Order of Police president Scott Calhoun tells The Herald Bulletin that the police cuts will hurt public safety and make officers' jobs more dangerous.

The cuts would leave the city with 107 police officers and 104 firefighters. The police union planned to picket outside City Hall before a City Council meeting Thursday night.

City Controller Sam Pellegrino says the city faces ongoing property tax revenue declines and cuts have already been made to other departments. He says the city is trying to make the police and fire department cuts as minimal as possible.