Oakland lays off 80 police officers

OAKLAND, Calif., July 13 (UPI) -- Oakland, Calif., officials said late Tuesday 80 police officers would be laid off following the collapse of contract talks with the police union.

A last-ditch bargaining session Tuesday failed to produce an agreement that would prevent the layoffs.

KGO-TV, San Francisco, said the sticking points came down to how much of a pay cut the 779-member force would be required to accept, the percentage of salary that would go to officers' pensions and the city's inability to guarantee there would be no further staff reductions for three years.

Mayor Ron Dellums said he was disappointed the rank-and-file officers did not have a chance to vote on the city's most-recent offer.

Police Chief Anthony Batts said earlier his depleted department would no longer respond to calls for 44 types of crimes and emergencies, KNTV-TV, San Jose, reported. Oakland residents will have to go online or to a station to report burglaries, grand theft, identity theft, vandalism and even loud parties.