Staffing levels lower

Midway through the fiscal year, and with revenues lower than expected, Newport-Mesa police and fire departments are adjusting to lower staffing levels.

The Costa Mesa police department has 17 open positions, the fire department 12. Eleven of the vacant police positions are sworn officers in traffic, patrol, air or detective bureaus.

“We had a good response to the early retirement plan [last year], and it created more vacancies than what we originally projected,” said Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder. “But at the same time, the economy has continued to falter...quite honestly it doesn’t look really good for the next fiscal year.”

Costa Mesa’s traffic bureau has been hit the hardest, with four openings that may not be filled soon because of a looming $9.3-million budget shortfall.

Police Chief Chris Shawkey said that in the coming months there could be an uptick in crashes and a decrease in tickets.

If necessary, Shawkey can move patrol officers, who handle emergency calls, to traffic enforcement. But a move like that, he said, would probably slow down response times to some calls.

Shawkey said it’s too early to measure the full effect of the vacancies, many of which came through retirements in December.

“I can move someone from patrol to traffic,” he said. “I can carry vacancies in other areas ... it’s like [robbing] Peter to pay Paul.”

The department also lacks a property and evidence supervisor, another vacancy that could pose problems.

“You can mess up a whole case if your evidence isn’t handled properly,” Shawkey said.

The chief added that other city agencies have similar issues: “Some positions are critical for the operation of the city. Other department heads are in similar situations and have important needs as well.”

Costa Mesa’s Fire Department had 12 positions open since July. In response to last year’s budget woes, the minimum number of firefighters was lowered. Fewer firefighters and administrators has led to extra shifts and overtime.

Newport Beach firefighters face the same situation.

Dave Kiff, Newport Beach city manager, said there were 10 openings on the firefighter level and four in administration. Firefighters there are also working more overtime.

The four administration positions will likely remain unoccupied, he said.

The Newport Beach Police Department has six openings; three new officers were hired last week. However, because of attrition, there are typically about half a dozen openings in the police department in any given year, city officials said.

Unlike in Costa Mesa, where officials don’t appear to be turning to the public safety unions for substantial sacrifices, Newport Beach union leaders said the rank-and-file may have to absorb some of the city’s $8-million budget deficit.