Sign of layoffs?

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Officers in the Toledo Police Department's property room have been told to prepare over 100 boxes to receive equipment, sources within the department told FOX Toledo News on Thursday.

The city can neither confirm nor deny the report, according to Jason Webber, spokesman for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

Still, Councilman D. Michael Collins said he has heard similar information from officers and is concerned that it may be true. If that is the case and up to 150 officers are laid off, he would recommend the mayor ask for assistance from Gov. Ted Strickland.

“The impact of this will be absolutely devastating to the City of Toledo,” he said. "I would have to suggest that we would not be able to fulfill our complete police responsibilities to the city, absent the assistance of the National Guard.”

Short of that, Collins said this should be a wake-up call for the city administration and police unions to get negotiations into gear. If that means officers have to take concessions in order to keep their jobs, it's something need to be considered, he said.

“There has to be consideration on the safety forces side and on the administration side,” Collins stressed. “We have not been very professional in terms of our responsibilities in dealing with labor relations issues.”

Other than the 75 layoffs announced back in March, Police Chief Mike Navarre said there are no other layoffs planned.

He said he has not ordered anyone in the property room to prepare boxes, nor does he expect to collect laid off officers' equipment with the expectation that they will be hired back.

Tim Hudgin said Point Place is usually quiet, and he wants to keep it that way. He also believes the city is all talk when it comes to laying off 75 to 150 police officers.

"They've done a fine job for years and I don't think they should be singled out like this," he said.

But for those living in North Toledo, some say they really don't care what happens - some residents there actually feel threatened by police officers. But one resident said regardless, patrols are still needed in the neighborhood to keep the little ones safe.

"I think it's a bad idea if we can do whatever we can to save our police officers let's do it," said Johnnie McCoy.

Bernell Woodmore agrees, who lives in East Toledo. He's disappointed with the way police handle crime in the area, but getting rid of them will only create more problems.

"I think that will make it even worse. The crime rate will go higher if the police get laid off," said Woodmore.

Crooks allegedly stole from William Rollins' storage in East Toledo not once but twice this year. He says he's afraid of what else might happen in the future.

"There's really not any police force on the street anymore that I can tell," he said. "It seems they've already been laid off."

For those living in West Toledo, some say although layoffs really don't affect them personally, they believe the city should make police and safety its top priority.

"A hundred is too many. They probably should cut elsewhere," said Lisa Batey.

In South Toledo many residents are worried about a crime increase, especially when summer begins. They also feel if the layoffs happen, crime will get out of hand, due in part to the sluggish economy.

(FOX Toledo's Sharia Davis contributed to this report)