By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

LOCKLAND - Some residents are fighting to save the jobs of two village police officers who will be laid off July 31 because of budget cuts.

More than 100 residents have signed a petition asking village leaders to reconsider their decision.

They want the cuts to come from elsewhere.

Lockland is facing a $900,000 budget deficit this year, and the layoffs could save up to $200,000 a year, officials said.

"We didn't want to do it, but we had to do it," Mayor Jim Brown said. "If you don't have the money to pay them, then what are you going to do? They aren't going to work for nothing."

Officials have also frozen salary increases and placed limits on overtime pay, Brown said.

"You don't take our officers off the street," resident Cheryl Sutton said. "We need those police officers."

The layoffs will reduce the number of full-time police officers from 11 to nine. The department also pays three part-time officers.

Brown said the village will have two officers on each shift.

Doug Wehmeyer, another resident, said he's concerned about the possibility of other cuts.

"I don't (like) them cutting cops and I don't want them cutting firemen. People are going to need the police," he said. "If the garbage doesn't get picked up, who's going to die from it?"

Residents said they want options.

"If that's the case, and they want us to approve a tax levy I'm sure the citizens would back it," Sutton said. "We want to be safe."

Officials don't want to pursue a levy until one for the Lockland schools is resolved, Brown said.

"Cuts are coming from everywhere just to try to keep our heads above water," said Lockland Council member Joe Roth. "It's certainly unfortunate, but necessary."

E-mail daveck@fuse.net