NHPD cops protest layoffs

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - New Haven police officers are letting Mayor John DeStefano know that they're not happy with the recent layoffs.

News 8 first told you about 16 police officers that were laid off Wednesday night. More layoffs are expected as the city tries to deal with a multi-million dollar deficit.

With their lights flashing and their sirens blaring, the police officers drove up to City Hall, got out of their vehicles and started chanting "Bring Them Back!". They were also calling for DeStefano to come out.

"That's baloney. There's no need for any cop to be laid off. We stepped up to the plate, and the city is saying no? That's baloney," says Frank Lombardi, Union Vice President.

Pictures sent to News 8 via Report It show some of the police officers marching through the city streets from the police station to City Hall. Another Report It photo shows the police officers blocking traffic on Church Street.

Angelo Mauriello was of the police officers who found out last night that he had to turn in his gun and badge today at 10am.

"You work so hard, it's not easy doing this job, and then you get a phone call it's sad to hear," he said.

News of the layoffs last night came just as police were responding to a double shooting at a Dunkin' Donuts store on Derby Avenue. Union President Sergeant Louis Cavaliere calls the layoffs a "disgusting embarrassment" and is suggesting that city residents arm themselves.

"We have five shootings in 19 hours -- it's dangerous in this city, it's dangerous for us, it's dangerous for the citizens. I don't know how you can say you're just gonna lay cops off," said Anthony Zona, Treasurer, New Haven Police Union.

Zona also wonders why Chief Police Frank Limon has been noticeably absent from this whole process. "He should have been down here with us, he should have got ahead of this, he should have supported us, he should have gone to the mayor," he said.

Union leaders went up to talk with Mayor DeStefano at City Hall. We're told the union asked the mayor to postpone the layoffs for a couple of months so that they could come up with concessions. DeStefano reportedly rejected that offer. The mayor says he will be holding a press conference at 3pm.