By Liz Oakes
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ELMWOOD PLACE - Council is expected to hire an attorney by next week to fight a lawsuit by a police officer who was demoted partly to save money in the financially struggling village.

Four weeks ago, officials laid off a policeman, bringing the full-time force down from eight officers two years ago to four: the chief, lieutenant, sergeant and patrolman in the village of 2,700 that borders the city of Cincinnati.

Over the past year, the village has also reduced firefighters' and secretaries' hours, and is considering dropping health insurance payments for families of its six retirees.

"Further down the road, we may have to cut some more," said Councilman Art Coffey. "If you don't have the money to pay (employees), they're not going to come in and work for nothing."

The village plans to hire Cincinnati lawyer Laura Abrams at a rate of $125 an hour to defend against a lawsuit filed by Sgt. Paul Corbeil.

Corbeil sued in January after he was demoted from lieutenant after six months - partly, officials say, to save money.

Lieutenants in Elmwood Place make $16.75 an hour; sergeants, $15.25.

Several village officials said the issue goes beyond money.

"I don't think we need two lieutenants," Coffey said. "There's principles involved, too. ... We have the right to confirm or not to confirm (promotions). We've always done that."

Corbeil went on light duty and did not have continuous service as a lieutenant, according to council members Jerry Jones and Stephanie Morgan.

Councilwoman Scarlett Monday, who opposed the vote to demote Corbeil, said she would rather see money spent elsewhere, such as beefing up the police and fire departments.

She also pointed to $14,000 projected spending on recreation in the $1.2 million budget approved by council on Tuesday.

"I don't want to see the pool not open, because the kids need it, but it doesn't need to be open seven days a week, 10 hours a day, either, like in the past," she said.

Village Council's next meeting is 10 a.m. Saturday at the town hall.

E-mail loakes@enquirer.com