The city is broke, the unions don’t care and as usual it will be citizens who suffer as another town cuts police services due to an unsustainable budget:

Today, the Stockton Police Department dropped this bomb, “We absolutely do not have any narcotics officers, narcotics sergeants working any kind of investigative narcotics type cases at this point in time,” said Officer Pete Smith.

With the latest round of layoffs handed to police, the departments says to cover routine patrols it had to shutter the narcotics unit – and there is no relief in sight. FOX40 broke the news to Mayor Ann Johnston.

“It distresses me that we’ve had to go to this extent in terms of reductions in our police department,” says Johnston.

Folks who live in Stockton were less than pleased to hear the news.

“So we’re just going to have a bunch of drug dealers running around? And it’s not fair, we need all the help we can get to stop all of the crime,” said Deanielle Rivera.

“I think drugs have kind of taken over the city,” said Judi Tekerlek.

With more than 1100 calls for service a day and force of 340 full time officers department spokesperson Pete Smith said a choice had to be made and that doesn’t mean they’re happy about it.

“Drugs are a breeding ground for many other activities,” said Smith, “and if these are going more and more unchecked, one would have to speculate that you’re going to see a rise across the board in those types of criminal activities.”

It all comes down to money. Stockton has declared a fiscal crisis and the mayor says if the police department wants to stop layoffs, it’s on their back. “It’s really up to our unions, our police union to come to the table to make concessions so we can save officers or rehire officers. It’s all about finances,” said Johnston.

And the city is set to eliminate the vice unit in the coming months. Welcome to the second world, America because if you think your area has better finances then California you’re dreaming.