Royal Oak makes police cuts amid safety worries

ROYAL OAK (AP) -- Royal Oak is making more cuts to its police department amid safety worries following a late-night fight that brought in help from neighboring law enforcement departments. The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak reports that the police department will shrink from 70 to 65 sworn officers as part of a $34.8 million budget approved Monday for the fiscal year starting July 1. Interim Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue says the department is "reaching a breaking point" if it hasn't already. The Royal Oak City Commission also heard concerns from residents. Royal Oak police did not request help following the May 22 incident, but two Michigan State Police troopers and an officer from nearby Pleasant Ridge responded after hearing police radio traffic about the disturbance, which involved a crowd of nearly 200 people. Published: Wed, Jun 8, 2011