Chicago suburb lays off almost third of police

LYONS, Ill. (AP) - A police union says suburban Chicago village officials have laid off about 30 percent of the community’s police force.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police says seven of the 23 officers in Lyons were laid off Friday as contract negotiations continue.

Tamara Cummings is a representative for the union, which has been negotiating with the village for months.

Lyons is about 10 miles southwest of Chicago and has about 16,000 residents.

Village Manager Tom Sheahan tells WBBM that the layoffs were necessary because of budget cuts.

But Cummings disagrees, telling WLS-TV that the layoffs are “disappointing” and “frightening.”