City of Minneapolis Police Department's Budget Analysis

City of Minneapolis Police Department's Budget Analysis

Annette Ratliff

University of Phoenix

Instructor Steve Nance

January 18, 2009

The purpose of this paper is to address the budget issues of the City of Minneapolis Police Department. The paper will go into details about how the Minneapolis Police Department has to obtain quickly funds in an effort to keep the newly sworn in officer on the force or at the least allow the officers to come back on the force and not have them waiting for a long period to be employed. The chief will search different avenues to bring more revenue in to the City of Minneapolis Police Department. The paper will conclude with recommendations that will or can bring more revenue or ideas to use effectively funds to re-employ the newly sworn in officers.

On December 14, 2009, 20 Minneapolis Police officers were blessed to be graduates from the academy. Because of the struggling economy, the officers will be unemployed. The police department will have to layoff 25 officers off because the police department cannot afford to pay the officers' salaries. The 20 newly sworn in officers are in that count. Police Chief Tim Dolan did not attempt to hide the fact that he will not be able to keep all 20 of the officers. The article stated, "The officers who are not able to stay with the Minneapolis Police Department, can work at any state law enforcement agency that is hiring."

The chief did say that once the federal grant comes through which he will be able to keep at least 15 of the officers staffed. Even when the grant comes to the police department, the chief will still have to shift other funds around to keep 15 officers. The other alternative is to have senior officers to retire early and take an incentive for retiring early.

The chief is working diligently to keep all 25 of the officers staffed or to rehire all the officers again. This is a special group as it contains a diverse selection of officers. The police department is working to hire officers to represent the different races here in Minneapolis. This different race will be a huge addition to the department. The different race of officers will make the diverse residents comfortable or less stressful when they are approached by an officer. The different communities will feel more comfortable knowing they have someone on the force who will look out for his or her rights and fair treatment. Hiring new officers to represent their cultures is a plus for any department. This will keep complaints off the department about other races of police officers intentionally harming or harassing the minorities here in Minneapolis. Another positive addition for the Minneapolis