The city police department is enduring a summer of turmoil.

Police leaders feel their ability to make decisions to respond to arsons and violent crime is constrained by the union contract while the rank-and-file officers see themselves as underpaid and not being heard.

And while the North Central section of the city in recent weeks has seen a a homicide, a shooting and a rash of arsons, the department is dealing with a staffing shortage.

Three officers have transferred to other agencies and six are on administrative leave while criminal investigations are underway.

"It is those who have represented the city who have faltered at the bargaining table," Chief John Tedesco told the City Council's Public Safety Committee Monday night.

Tedesco said the seniority provisions of the contract between the city and the Troy Police Benevolent Association makes it difficult for him to respond as he would like when selecting officers for specific assignments.

"This is a very solid police department. It's administration and management that needs to come to the forefront," Tedesco said.

The PBA has gone without a raise for about six years. The union has filed for arbitration in an attempt to secure a raise for its members.

"Assuming we're not trying to do something or failing to do something is really a slap in the face to this police department. You ask us to work with less every single day. And we're doing it to the best of our ability," Detective Aaron Collington, the PBA president, told the council members.

Collington said he has only met once to discuss issues facing the department with Mayor Patrick Madden and Tedesco since he became union president in Oct. 2016. He said the PBA is ready to listen and cooperate with the administration, but that all three of them have to meet.

The city and the PBA have had off and on bargaining talks, but not been able to reach any agreements.

Councilwoman Kim Ashe-McPherson called on the mayor to hold a meeting, which he said was possible. Madden said there are stresses between the police administration and the union.

Tedesco spent most of the nearly two-hour session at City Hall responding to council member questions and describing the difficulties the department faces. He said the department is shoring up patrols, focusing on North Central, the center of recent criminal activity and the city's poorest neighborhood.

He said he approved 86 overtime slips Monday and expected to have more to sign Tuesday.

Five members of the city drug unit, formally known as the Firearms Interdiction and Narcotics Suppression (FINS) Unit, are on paid leave. The State Police is investigating the officers for allegedly conducting a warrantless search and falsifying a police report to cover it up.

Tedesco said that investigation may be concluded by late August. He said he doesn't know what action will be taken to replace the unit. He said the State Police and the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office have filled the gap created by the unit being off the streets.

Another officer is on leave while Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel E. Abelove is investigated by the state attorney general's office for his handling of the case in which the officer shot and killed a man during a traffic stop.

Councilman Mark McGrath, the Republican who represents the North Central and South Lansingburgh neighborhoods, said having more officers out driving through the streets and not arresting people smoking marijuana or selling drugs is not dealing with the problems.

He called for a street crimes unit or an anti-crime unit to be deployed. He claimed 20 to 30 individuals are causing the problems in the city.

"I'm not saying violate anybody's rights," said McGrath.

Councilman Robert Doherty, the Democrat representing downtown, said people want aggressive policing, but that individuals have to be respected. Doherty said open drug sales need to be addressed immediately.