Hollister Police Union Warns Civilian Layoffs Could Cripple Department
HOLLISTER, Calif. — The Hollister Police Officers Association is warning that layoffs of every civilian employee at the Hollister Police Department could disrupt law-enforcement services beginning Wednesday morning.
In a statement posted Tuesday evening, the association said City Manager Ana Cortez intends to eliminate all civilian positions at the department, including employees assigned to records, code enforcement, evidence processing, patrol community-service duties, and building and fleet maintenance.
The association claimed the department would be “effectively closed for business” at 9 a.m. without staff to answer nonemergency telephone calls, release police reports, process evidence, return towed or impounded vehicles, or prepare arrest reports for delivery to the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office. facebook.com
Sworn officers would continue responding to emergencies and conducting enforcement operations, but the association argued that officers cannot effectively serve the public without the civilian employees who support investigations, records management, evidence control, facilities, and administrative functions.
The warning comes as Hollister confronts a severe financial crisis. On October 2, the City Council declared a financial emergency after officials disclosed that the general-fund bank account had fallen to only $178 and the city lacked sufficient cash to meet payroll. Council members approved an $18 million interfund loan to cover wages and other expenses while longer-term solutions are considered. sanbenito.com
City officials have attributed the crisis to years of financial mismanagement, inadequate controls, depleted reserves, and unreconciled accounts. Hollister faces continuing deficits in both its general and water funds.
As of early Wednesday, the city had not publicly confirmed the association’s claim that every police civilian employee would be laid off.
The Police Officers Association is urging residents to contact Hollister’s elected officials and oppose the cuts, arguing that filling seven vacant officer positions will not preserve public safety if the department loses the civilian workforce necessary to support them.