WARREN - The police department's first day after the city's most recent round of layoffs was a busy one.
With four fewer officers in the department, vacations and the busy summer season in swing, officers requested help from neighboring departments and were backed up in five to six calls at one point during an unusually busy and small-staffed afternoon shift.
''Between 5 and 9 p.m., that's when everything just kind of broke,'' said Sgt. Daniel Mason, who said himself and two officers were on patrol during the afternoon shift. ''Yesterday was just one of those days that's extremely rare, when you're working that short.''
The department is down about two-dozen officers from last year after the layoffs of 20 in January and another four Sunday. The latest were part of 15 layoffs meant to help trim a $1.5 million deficit and which city officials warned of if unions did not agree to concessions. Along with the layoffs, the department's narcotics unit has temporarily been suspended, and three detectives and a traffic investigator sent to patrol duties.
Lately, said Mason, shifts vary day to day with vacations and sick leave on top of the layoffs. During Monday's afternoon shift, for example, he said, five were on patrol with a sergeant and a lieutenant on station. Sunday, Mason, who was working as turn commander, said three were available for patrol.
One of the busiest times was around 9 p.m. Sunday, when police were called to Woodbine Avenue S.E. to reports of a fight involving more than 50 people. At the time, said police, Woodbine and Homewood avenues were closed for a block party, involving a car show and attended by hundreds.
A handful of calls came in to police, one reporting a shot fired.
A crowd was leaving Pit Stop and created a nuisance, fighting, revving motors and driving recklessly, said reports. Officer Jeff Hoolihan was boxed in by the other drivers and called for back-up. Howland and Trumbull County Sheriff's deputies responded as mutual aid and the crowd dispersed. The crowd, mostly juveniles, carried their antics to other areas of the city, Mason said, but during the incident, calls backed up as officers were tied up in that neighborhood.
Mutual aid is called occasionally, and generally on the low-staffed midnight shift, Mason said.
''I was very concerned about my safety,'' Hoolihan said. ''It's totally reactive now. The proactiveness is over. Now we're just cleaning up the mess and cleaning up the pieces.''
A man was shot in the leg about 2 a.m. Monday at Powerhouse Bar, a pizza delivery woman was robbed at gunpoint at Hampshire House apartments and a Warren man was robbed in front of a home on Robert Street N.W.
There were also a rash of shed break-is over the weekend, said police, and just Sunday, seven burglaries were reported in homes, sheds and cars.
A resident on Genesee Avenue N.E. told police Saturday someone broke into a shed in his backyard and took a $600 leaf vacuum. Friday, a Mahoning Avenue N.W. resident told police someone entered a garage, ransacked it and took a weed trimmer, leaf blower and two gas cans.
With the lower manpower, Mason said those are the types of calls that will fall lower on the priority list for police. During busy times, residents with calls that aren't considered urgent will have to make a report at the department or consult with a prosecutor themselves.
''We're not going to get tied up on a car broken into, the theft of an item,'' he said. ''If it's nothing urgent or life-threatening ... and there's no suspect or crime in progress. If nothing else is going on ... we will send them.''
Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin said the traffic has caused some concern, but it could be solved with concessions.
''Obviously, I'm concerned about citizens being able to have a response for services in a timely fashion and I'm also concerned about the safety of our police officers. We could solve a lot of problems with a concessions package. That could put people back on the streets.''