ALTURAS, Calif. — The Alturas Police Officers Association (APOA) is pushing back strongly against a controversial budget proposal presented during a Sept. 30 special meeting of the Alturas City Council. The plan, introduced by City Manager Warren Farnam, threatens to eliminate three positions within the Alturas Police Department (APD)—a move union representatives warn would gut 60 percent of the city’s sworn staffing and compromise public safety.
The department currently operates with just five officers on a 24-hour schedule to cover the entire city. Union leaders argue that removing three positions would leave Alturas with only two sworn officers and the police chief, creating severe operational bottlenecks and safety hazards.
Severe Threats to Emergency Response and Dispatch Functions
According to the APOA, reducing the force to two line officers jeopardizes the city’s ability to respond to simultaneous emergencies, protect officers in dangerous situations, and maintain basic coverage.
“Police officers respond to violent crimes, domestic violence incidents, medical emergencies requiring law enforcement assistance, traffic collisions, disturbances, and other unpredictable situations,” the Association noted in a statement. “With only two officers remaining, the City must explain how it intends to ensure adequate coverage, provide timely emergency responses, and protect officers who may be required to handle dangerous situations with limited backup.”
The union also highlighted grave concerns that one of the eliminated roles could be the department’s dispatcher. Beyond answering 911 calls, the APD dispatcher handles:
-
Essential records and public information requests.
-
Evidence routing and case file management for the District Attorney’s Office.
-
Critical administrative duties necessary to keep officers on the beat.
Eliminating support and administrative roles could stall investigations, delay prosecution filings, and leave active officers bogged down in paperwork rather than patrolling the community.
Allegations of Secrecy and Lack of Transparency
The union and concerned community members have raised sharp questions regarding how the City Council handled the Sept. 30 special meeting, which was called for 2:00 p.m. under a general agenda heading:
“Discussion/action: Review options for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget. (City Manager Farnam).”
Despite the explicit “discussion/action” label, councilmembers claimed during the meeting that the item was for discussion only and that no final decisions had been made. However, Council members acknowledged they had been quietly discussing the proposed layoffs for several months.
Furthermore, the APOA stated that city leaders failed to notify the union in advance or invite them to the meeting, violating the terms of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Union representatives only learned of the potential layoffs independently shortly before the meeting occurred and scrambled to notify the public.
During the meeting, City Manager Warren Farnam stated that severe budget constraints left the city with no other option. However, the union contends that the city has provided no proof that alternative measures—such as pursuing federal or state public safety grants, trimming non-essential municipal budgets, or identifying new revenue streams—were ever thoroughly explored.
District Attorney’s Office Pushes Back
The proposal met fierce pushback from law enforcement partners outside the city government. Assistant District Attorney Richard Cotta delivered an impassioned rebuke at the Sept. 30 meeting, expressing outrage and characterizing the proposal as an attempt to “defund the police.”
Cotta emphasized that crippling the local police department directly harms the broader justice system, making it far more difficult to prosecute violent offenders and bring closure to victims of crime.
A Call to Action for Local Residents
In response to the proposed cuts, the Alturas Police Officers Association is calling on city leaders to freeze any layoff plans and provide the community with:
-
A full financial audit explaining the exact budget shortfall and the expected savings from each position cut.
-
A detailed review of alternatives, including non-police budget reductions and grant funding options.
-
A realistic public safety plan outlining how two officers can safely patrol the city 24/7/365.
-
Formal public notice and full compliance with union bargaining agreements before future staffing changes are considered.
How to Get Involved
The APOA is urging all residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to attend the next regularly scheduled meeting to make their voices heard before final decisions are made.
-
What: Alturas City Council Meeting
-
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
-
Where: Alturas City Hall / Council Chambers
