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Police union head looks forward to working with Brand
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
January 5, 2017

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The president of the Fresno police union looks forward to working with new leadership at City Hall. Damon Kurtz, president of the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA) wants to make sure Fresno is a competitive place to attract new officers.

Currently, approximately 750 officers patrol the streets. But that is still under the budgeted goal of around 800. Kurtz says that at its low point, there were 696 officers as of January 2014. While 200 have been hired, more have left the department.

Why is the police department down? “(We) can’t hire fast enough, can’t find candidates. It is a statewide and nationwide epidemic to try and find recruits,” Kurtz tells GV Wire. “People just aren’t coming to the law enforcement profession right now.”  He also cited the increased scrutiny on police behavior over the last few years as a hindrance to recruiting and keeping officers.

Kurtz says they will have to be creative to recruit and retain police officers.” Either that comes through pay or benefit increases that lead people to that profession and make them want to stay.”

With Mayor Lee Brand now in charge of City Hall, Kurtz looks forward to working with the new administration. “I see that we will have a good relationship going forward.”

Brand’s stated goals during the campaign was to bring the department to 1,000 officers over a period of four to eight years.

City Hall will have to negotiate a new contract with the FPOA, which expires at the end of June. Kurtz says they are currently studying the issue. He says that surrounding departments have increased benefit packages which affects Fresno PD. “Most areas have caught up to us, if not surpassed us. That leads to people leaving to ‘greener pastures.”

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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