From:  Office of Mayor William Lantigua
Subject:  Mayor Lantigua announces all 5 Police Officers Confirm Return to City Force; 14 in total!
Date: September 2, 2011
For more information contact Maria Cruz    Tel: 978-620-3013

Mayor Lantigua announces all 5 Police Officers Confirm Return to City Force; 14 in total!

With Labor Day weekend upon us, Mayor Lantigua happily announced today that all 5 Officers recalled from the lay-off list have confirmed their anticipated return to the City of Lawrence Police Department.   Over the course of the next couple of weeks, these officers will transition back to their professional capacity protecting the peace, safety and health of our citizens in the Great City of Lawrence.  This group of five officers brings the total of returned officers to fourteen as of this date.  Yes, fourteen Police Officers have been returned over the course of this past year, a number that does not seem to always be reported in local media outlets.

Mayor Lantigua realizes that city finances remain difficult, but continues to monitor the public safety budgets on a daily basis with his top advisors. "It is imperative that we restore our public safety officials, but also critical that we monitor and forecast the financial future.  We don't want to bring officers back with high expectations and then face lay-offs next budget season.  That would clearly be a step in the wrong direction and since taking office we have made sound financial decisions and I will continue to do so."

The Mayor under the leadership of the Lawrence Police Department has also applied for several grants to help restore public safety position in the City of Lawrence.  Mayor Lantigua anticipates the City of Lawrence being eligible for more dollars in the future, but is mindful of the fact that grants are for specific time periods and many of our existing grant funded positions will be ending this coming June 30th.

"I'm happy to bring back as many Police and Fire Officials as financially possible", stated Mayor Lantigua.  "One of the most difficult parts of my job is laying people off due to budgetary constraints.  Our city departments are strained and we need to restore what we can", further stated the Mayor of Lawrence.