By Liz Oakes
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ELMWOOD PLACE - This financially strapped village, already down three police officers, could lose another this weekend to budget cuts, and that has some residents worried about safety.

Council is expected to approve the cutback at a special meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Officer Paul Corbeil sued the village in January after he was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant to save about $5,000 in salary and benefits, according to officials.

"I don't want to lay off any officers," said Councilwoman Scarlett Monday. "We have five and a police chief. That's not good.

"I'm already worried about responding to calls. We had three armed robberies within two weeks. And one of those we had one officer on duty. While the burglary was going on, he was already on another call with an infant who wasn't breathing," she said.

The liquor store robbery happened right across the street, but the officer couldn't leave the baby until an ambulance arrived, Monday said. The robber hasn't been caught.

Mayor Barney Philpot said the village doesn't have any choice.

"We don't have any money to pay him. ... If you can't pay your officers, they shouldn't be here working."

The village of about 2,700 residents has a projected an approximate $200,000 shortfall this year.

"Everything's been cut except the police department. Fire's been cut, the office, everything," Philpot said.

Monday said she and Councilman Randall Grandstaff have suggested other changes, including charging residents $8 a month for garbage collection, lowering the tax credit for income taxes paid to other municipalities, and cutting elected officials' pay.

None has been approved, although the garbage collection fees are still a possibility if finances don't improve by mid-year, Philpot said.

A state auditor is returning in March at Philpot's request to help the village make some hard choices, the mayor said.

Since last year, Elmwood Place has reduced firefighters' and secretaries' hours. In January, the police chief lost use of an official car after hours.

E-mail loakes@enquirer.com