Police officers post billboards to stop layoffs in Stockton

  

STOCKTON, CA (KGO) -- Police officers in Stockton hope an aggressive advertising campaign helps stop a wave of layoffs that has been depleting their ranks.

One billboard welcomes visitors to "The second most dangerous city in California." So far the police officers union has put up five billboards and they plan to have 25.

"The bottom line is we're working barebones now, we cannot stand to layoff another 58 officers," says Stockton Police Officer Sean Fenner.

"We cannot sustain the contracts we have now. We cannot pay for the people we have employed today without concessions from the union. That is the fiscal reality we're dealing with," says Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston.

The city faces a $23 million budget deficit. The police and fire departments make up just more than three-quarters of Stockton's entire city budget.

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