Mobile's top cop says officers are leaving with job security jitters

MOBILE, Ala. - Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams said Tuesday he's losing officers, because the penny tax failed.

Williams voiced his concerns following the city council meeting. Williams estimates he's lost more than 20 officers who have left the force to go into the private sector or other police departments.

The Chief said the officers who put their lives on the line every day are looking for security. He said they shouldn't have to worry about furloughs or possible lay-offs.

"These guys have families they have mortgages, they have house notes, and they're looking for security. They're looking for jobs that they can retire from, without having to worry about whether they're going to make they're next mortgage payment, or whether they're going to be able to provide food for they're families or keep the utilities going," the chief said.

During the meeting, councilman Fred Richardson took out a sign and wrote down the number 553, which is the number of current police officers.

"I think it's going to get worse, because they fear the future. They don't want to sit here and we start laying off and terminating out officers because of lack of funds," he said.

He said a number of officers have already put in their resignations and he intends to keep track of officers who leave the force.

"I want the people to know what's happening. We need to do something," Richardson said.

Williams agrees.

"We're in a situation where the morale is as low as I can ever remember it being. These guys do a great service for the city of Mobile," he said.

Williams stressed that a routine traffic stop isn't always as simple as the name suggests.

"Their lives are in danger every time they put that uniform on, every time they don that vest. To put those people in a situation where they're worried about feeding their families, where they're worried about paying their mortgage, educating their children, there's a problem with that, there's something wrong with that," Williams said.