The Omaha City Council voted on the city's 2021 budget Tuesday afternoon.
Council President Chris Jerram proposed cutting $2 million from the city’s police budget and moving to put it towards social and mental health programs. Jerram raised the question of whether the police should be responding to so many calls involving mental-health issues, and said he thought the issue merited a conversation in the community. But Councilwoman Aimee Melton disagreed saying that removing mental-health money from the police budget would be more like a punishment.
Melton asked Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to address the council to talk more about the concern. The police chief noted that state law mandates only law enforcement can put someone into emergency protective custody. He also emphasized the co-responder available at each precinct who comes to the scene to assist with the situation once police determine the scene is safe.
Schmaderer said that his department has been emphasizing de-escalation tactics, implemented body cameras, and programs like the co-responder program. He said these tactical method changes take years to implement, and that “there’s been a lot of progress in the City of Omaha.”
The majority of council members said they would not support removing funds from the police department.
Councilman Ben Gray said he couldn't support Jerram’s agenda item, but did appreciate the discussion. Gray said he was worried that any significant cuts to the police budget would undo the efforts made in getting more minorities in the OPD ranks.
Gray said the timing wasn’t right for the proposed OPD budget reduction. “We are in the midst of a gang war,” Gray said. “We need all hands on deck. We need to stop this violence again.”
Councilman Pete Festersen said he also could not support reducing the police budget, but proposed an amendment that would move $1.8 million out of the city's cash reserve to go towards mental health and social programs. The city’s finance director said he didn’t think it was a good idea to take the money out of the city’s cash reserves, given the uncertainty of the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council voted to pass Festersen's amendment with a 4-3 vote, but Mayor Jean Stothert has stated she plans to veto the measure.