CBS 5 - KPHO Hiring freeze continues within Phoenix police

Hiring freeze continues within Phoenix police

Phoenix plans to continue its hiring freeze within the police department until at least 2015. The current hiring freeze has been in place for 6 1/2 years.

Phoenix began hiring officers shortly after voters approved a 0.2 percent sales-tax increase in 2007 to supplement two other tax funds dedicated to public safety.

When the economic downturn hit and sales tax collections fell, city leaders voted to approve and later keep in place a hiring freeze as Phoenix faced a $47 million deficit in its public safety funds.

During fiscal years 2007-2008, Phoenix employed nearly 3,340 sworn officers. That number has dropped to 3,048 today.

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