Chief wants cops to fight crime; officers look for other jobs
In the embattled California city of Vallejo, the City Council this week voted unanimously to cut pay and health care benefits for its police officers. The police chief responded by urging his cops to stay focused on fighting crime. But Mat Mustard, the Vallejo POA president, said the mood around the station the day after the vote was that of “career planning.”
“I would venture to guess that everyone is weighing their options to make an intelligent decision about what to do next,” Mustard said.
The council approved a 5 percent pay cut and reduced health care coverage from 100 to 75 percent for active employees, and limited retiree health care to $300 a month after city and labor negotiators hit an impasse last September.