METHUEN, Mass. — Dozens of Methuen Police officers could be laid off if a solution to fund their department can't be found.
City officials estimate 50 officers could lose their jobs in the coming weeks. Last year, nearly $2 million was slashed from the police department's budget by the city council, Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said.
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The Eagle-Tribune reports the mayor is now going to ask the city council to restore the money.
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If the council doesn't agree, the city will run out of money to pay the police department at its current staffing levels.
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Correction: A previous version of this story noted the budget cuts were implemented to fund officers' raises. While officers agreed to a contract much lower than the initially indicated amount of $434,841, the city's police chief says the budget cuts were not needed to fund the raises and the 50-officer staff reduction would be unrelated.
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