Proposed Santa Fe city budget expands police, fire ranks

From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - by Julie Ann Grimm  - The city of Santa Fe would hire more employees for public safety and street maintenance if city councilors approve a budget proposal that's headed for a final vote this month.  Police Chief Ray Rael told councilors he's confident the changes will enhance the department's effectiveness. Officers who currently work in the vehicle-forfeiture section and who oversee recruiting and training would be replaced with noncommissioned personnel, for example.  Police who live within 15 miles of the city limits or inside the city limits would also see an additional incentive, part of an effort to lay the groundwork for changes to a controversial policy that allows officers who live as far away as Rio Rancho to drive their city vehicles to and from work.  The idea that police would get a $350 incentive for living near Santa Fe is creating animosity among members of the firefighters union, said its president, Carl Schmitt. Schmitt told councilors that while police cars in Santa Fe driveways might help deter crime, off-duty paramedics are valuable in health emergencies at public events and in neighborhoods.  "It would be unrealistic to think that we wouldn't be upset about this," Schmitt said later. "Public safety as a whole deserves this incentive. It's beneficial to have us all in the community." read more

Proposed Santa Fe city budget expands police, fire ranks