DeKalb cancels June police academy

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County Police recruits scheduled to start the law enforcement training academy in June will have to look for another job.

The police department has canceled the June academy class to meet a mandated $4.7 million budget cut, police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said Friday.

The department also canceled a job fair scheduled for Saturday.

The department was working to fill 40 vacancies with the June academy class. County officials are now contacting applicants who had signed up for the June training, Parish said.

Another group of 40 recruits are currently in the academy. Their training continues and no decision has been made on their employment.

The cuts are needed to meet a $33.6 million decrease in the 2011 budget. On Tuesday, the County Commission rejected a proposed property tax hike and approved the cuts.