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Mayor Ben Walsh Outlines Spending Reduction Plan; Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting

WAER File Photo

Employee furloughs and service cuts will begin next week in Syracuse as part of an $18 million spending reduction plan announced a week ago.  At his monthly briefing Friday, Mayor Ben Walsh reiterated the reductions in overtime and services will be felt by everyone.

 

“We are furloughing over 400 city employees through this spending contingency plan. I do not take that lightly. That’s going to have a direct impact on those individuals, and the services that we provide, and therefore our entire community.” said Walsh.

 

The furloughs include himself and other top administrators.  Walsh says his amounts to two days per month.

 

“Do I think I’ll be working during that time? I do, I expect to, but I won’t get paid for it. I think that’s appropriate given what we’re asking everyone else to do. I haven’t figured out what will happen on those specific days but I suspect it won’t be much different than any other day.”

Credit WAER File Photo
Spending Reduction Plan

 

POLICE INVESTIGATE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING

 

Syracuse police continue their investigation of an officer-involved shooting that killed a man early Friday morning.   Chief Kenton Buckner says officers responded to the Sunoco station on North State Street to reports of a man with a gun.  Officers tried to de-escalate the situation, but at some point during the encounter, they exchanged gunfire.

 

“Casings were found by the suspect that kind of gave us confirmation of the exchange of gunfire by the suspect. Multiple body cameras were on scene and captured parts of the incident.” said Buckner.

 

Buckner says he’s seen the footage, but can’t discuss it.  The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Steven Smith.  Buckner says his prior record or mental health status are not known.  He says the parking lot of the gas station has had its share of issues.

 

“The lot is known to have individuals who are having issues with mental illness, substance abuse, prostitution in that area, some of the homeless issues that we have throughout our downtown area. There are many things going on in that parking lot.” Buckner said.

 

Buckner says they’re doing their best to address the problems.  Meanwhile, police continue their investigation.  When they’re finished, the case will be turned over to the county DA’s office.  

 

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.