Boston Layoffs

Could it happen here? We doubt it. We're already shorthanded:

• The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association is balking at Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s ultimatum that unions agree to forgo their contractual raises by March 15 or face layoffs.
  
  
• Still, sources told the Herald that BPD is still looking at the possibility of laying off a dozen newly recruited cops in addition to the 40 cadets and 20 civilians that Police Commissioner Edward Davis announced would receive pink slips in July.

If Shortshanks wanted to cut manpower by 300 officers overnight, he could settle the contract tomorrow. By 01 July, we'd lay even money that a few hundred cops would put in their papers. Personnel is already saying the Department is ahead of last year's pace and should be a "larger than normal" year.