City police officials said they “continue to chip away” at bringing back laid off officers, even as nearby New Bedford prepares to make its force nearly whole following February’s state budget cuts.
New Bedford implemented its $2.4 million share of a U.S. Department of Justice grant under the Community Oriented Policy Services program on Wednesday to bring back 11 remaining officers from layoffs, department spokesman Lt. Jeffrey P. Silva said.
He said the 30 officers originally laid off will now be working.
That includes 11 officers previously recalled, mostly as a result of retirements. “Six others (are) not returning because they have taken jobs with other communities,” while two others were not eligible to return, Silva said.
By contrast, Fall River laid off 48 police officers after the budget cuts. Nearly half — 21 of the 48 officers — remain without police jobs, said Police Chief John M. Souza and Patrolman Michael Perreira, [...]

Original post by Michael Holtzman