Saugus Police almost out of overtime funds

SAUGUS – Saugus Police Chief Domenic Dimella said he has about five weeks left of overtime funds and may have to drastically cut back on police services if Town Meeting can?t come up with extra money.?If an officer is going to be in court all day, that takes an officer off the street,” said Dimella. “Usually we would fill overtime to replace him. If there?s no overtime, he won?t be replaced, and if you have someone out sick or on vacation, that?s three men down.”There is currently around $68,000 left in the overtime account out of $550,000 according to the budget, and Dimella said he has been spending between $12,000 and $15,000 per week on overtime.To get the department through the end of the fiscal year, which is in June, it would take around $200,000, but Dimella said he may be able to make do with half of that, noting his budget was cut by $180,000 at the beginning of the fiscal year.If the money isn?t found, Dimella said detectives wouldn?t be able to go out and take stolen car reports or investigate break-ins at homes.?The way it stands right now, I?m so understaffed that for every shift, the full complement of the shift just meets minimum staffing levels,” said Dimella. “Historically Saugus has staffed the police department through overtime. When I came on in 1990 we had 65 officers. Right now we only have 54 from me on down. When the overtime is cut it depletes our staffing.”Dimella said this situation arose once before he became chief, and said officers had to call other departments for mutual aid. Since becoming chief, however, he said it?s never come this close.?This is the first time,” said Dimella. “It?s definitely an officer safety issue. I need to have men on the street to protect each other. Hopefully we can work together to get this done. Public safety is a priority. We need cops on the street.”Police overtime was on the special Town Meeting warrant in November, however, Town Meeting member Maureen Dever made a motion to refer it to the next special Town Meeting. That motion passed 26-19.Multiple calls to Dever were not returned Thursday.Even if it passed, Dimella said the $50,000 on the warrant would have only lasted about a month.Dimella said the current uncertainty surrounding the budget is a concern after a recent preliminary audit uncovered several alleged financial violations.?Before they can do anything, they want to wait until this audit gives us a measuring stick of where we are,” said Dimella. “Of course they?re reluctant to do anything right now because we don?t know what our financial status is.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian voted against referring the warrant to the next Town Meeting, and on Thursday said a special Town Meeting isn?t planned anytime soon.?It will take three weeks to call a special Town Meeting,” said Manoogian. “The sooner they do it the more responsive Town Meeting can be. We just can?t do it within a 48-hour notice.”But while ongoing financial issues are a concern, Manoogian said Saugus? form of government may be outdated, which only exacerbates the problem.?It?s a situation that will be problematic in the community,” said Manoogian. “This is the same system that was used in 1845. ?Hey, everybody, put your pitchforks down ? we?re going to have a meeting.? This system of government does not meet the needs of 30,000 people.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].