Albany

The Albany Police Department used to be the place where all aspiring officers in the Capital Region wanted to work, Chief Eric Hawkins said — but these days, it's not like it used to be.

During a forum discussion Wednesday night alongside Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany Police Officers Union President Greg McGee, Hawkins said a staffing shortage is the biggest issue facing the department. APD is 47 officers short of the 342 officers for which the department is budgeted, he said.

"That creates a number of challenges because we're committed to providing the same level of service now — with under 300 officers than we had with 342 officers — because the community has demanded that, and I've made a commitment, and my staff has made a commitment to provide that same level of service," Hawkins said.

McGee laid out the issue more bluntly: "Right now, we're basically hemorrhaging," he said. "I'm not going to sugar-coat it."

The city is budgeted for 272 rank-and-file officers and detectives, McGee said, but the current number is 219. Out of that, 52 are detectives, five are on long-term medical leave, three are on military leave and three are suspended. After subtracting training and support roles, only 102 officers are assigned to a patrol position — even though the city requires 63 officers during a 24-hour period.

That means more officers are being forced to come to work, McGee said. The missed holidays and birthdays, combined with the higher starting pay at neighboring, suburban police departments, is causing a decline in moral that's leading to a exodus from the force.

"We are one of the lowest-paid agencies in the area, if not the lowest paid now," McGee said. "... These officers are just flat-out leaving."

McGee listed the starting salaries at several neighboring departments that he said were higher than the salaries paid to veteran Albany officers.

"For me, if I wasn't so invested at this point in my career, I would leave to go there so that I can provide for my family. Why not go somewhere where I could make $20,000 more and do less work? But I stay here because I have pride in working for the Albany Police Department," McGee said.

"The bottom line is, we're underpaid," he added. "We're underpaid, understaffed and overworked."

Hawkins said the issue is compounded by space restrictions at the city's police academy. Only 20 recruits at a time can be trained, he said. Hawkins said he's "fairly confident" the department will acquire space to train between 50 to 70 officers for the next academy class.

Also contributing to the issue, Sheehan said, is a stalemate between the city and the department's collective-bargaining unit. Albany police detectives are hoping to branch off and form their own representation, leaving contract negotiations in limbo.

Michael.Williams@timesunion.com or 518-454-4018.