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Flint Laying Off 69 Police Officers And Firefighters FLINT, MI (Michigan Radio) -

46 Flint police officers and 23 city firefighters will officially be laid off Thursday.

Union leaders and the mayor disagree whether that will make Flint less safe.

The layoffs come after months of failed contract talks between the mayor's office and public safety unions. The mayor's office has been demanding 15 percent wage and benefit cuts from the police and firefighters unions.

Firefighters union president Raul Garcia accuses the mayor of trying to be a union buster.

"Obviously this mayor doesn't care about the citizens of Flint, as well as us," says Garcia, "And I guess he's gonna have to wait until he kills one of us whether it's a firefighter of police officer."

Mayor Walling says the city has little choice but to make cuts in public safety. Flint's facing a 6 million dollar deficit and public safety is 60 percent of the city's budget.

Walling insists laying off 46 city police officers will not make Flint less safe.

"This city will be safe," says Walling, "Its not the size of the force, but how effectively they fight crime." But Flint's public safety unions say the city will be less safe. In addition to the layoffs, the city will be closing two fire stations.

Firefighters union president Raul Garcia says if any Flint police officers or firefighters die in the line of duty, it will be Mayor Walling's responsibility. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio