City Council declined to advance a request from Mayor Bob Duffy for more money to fund the Zero Tolerance police program. Duffy wants $1.6 million and has said he'll probably ask for more money next March. Council approved $2.5 million for the program late last month.

The $1.6 million has to go through the Finance and Public Services Committee before coming before Council for a vote. Committee members decided on December 13 to hold the request until their questions are answered.

"I don't want officers out on the street to think I'm not with them," Councilmember Adam McFadden said. "But I am concerned about the direction we're going."

McFadden said he's concerned that money is being spent on policing with no matching investment in communities. He said he's also concerned that too many "regular" people are being targeted by Zero Tolerance, which is supposed to focus on the few criminals "who are screwing up the city."

Councilmember Carolee Conklin asked about the effectiveness of officers working 12-hour days. Police Chief David Moore said he's "heard very limited complaints."

Conklin read aloud the dollar amount some officers have accumulated through Zero Tolerance overtime, with one officer earning $25,000, she said, since the program's October start. Conklin said she wanted to know how close these officers are to retirement. When Moore said Zero Tolerance has been a "great benefit" to the community, Conklin responded, "not to mention the pension."

Even though the $1.6 million request was held back by committee, Council members can still vote on it at the December 18 City Council meeting. They would have to first vote to discharge the request from committee and, sources say, that's probably what will happen.