By Gio Benitez
CBS4 Miami
Talk of a pay cuts for the Coral Gables Police Department is not sitting well with the rank and file.
On Tuesday dozens of officers and members of the police union marched into City Hall in a silent protest during the city commission's budget meeting. They're protesting a proposal which would cut their salaries by seven and a half percent, their pensions by half.
Fraternal Order of Police union spokesman John Baublitz said if the cut goes through it would have a negative impact on the city.
"There'll be less patrol men on the streets, less detectives investigating crimes," said Baublitz. "You'd have less safe neighborhoods and city."
Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick said he shares their concerns but the city is facing a $13 million budget shortfall for next year.
"It is true that we have to put in the proposal," said Slesnick before the budget meeting. "We are asking from higher contributions to pension plans and wage reductions."
Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Sergeant Randy Hoff said the Coral Gables Police Department is one of the lowest paying police departments in the county and a lot of officers are considering going to other agencies.
"We're concerned it's not going to attract the quality of officers it has in the past, we already have some of the most stringent hiring requirements," said Hoff. "We require a college education and now we won't even be close to competitive with other agencies."
Elena Linares, who owns a barber shop in the Miracle Mile, is worried that if the cuts go through there won't be officers to protect her business at night.
"We can't afford, we can't afford to have that happen," said Linares.
Commissioners will hold their final vote on the police contracts on August 31st.
This message has been posted by the Coral Gables FOP, Lodge #7.
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