Mayor’s plan seeks cuts across city, targets police supervisory ranks
St. Paul’s mayor on Thursday unveiled a 2027 budget proposal that would reduce the size of the St. Paul Police Department by eliminating several supervisory positions and cutting two civilian roles, part of an across-the-board effort to shrink city spending in the face of a projected $26 million deficit.
The proposal asks department heads to trim roughly 4 percent from agency budgets. For the police department, that would lower sworn staff from 616 to 605 officers by removing four vacant commander positions and seven vacant sergeant positions, according to budget documents. The plan also would eliminate a Crime Prevention Coordinator position and a Physical Fitness Coordinator position, while increasing funding for the police academy and vehicle repairs.
"Across city government, we are eliminating positions where appropriate, reassigning staff to address changing needs and focusing our resources where they will have the greatest impacts for residents."
The quote comes from Mayor Kaohly Her, who framed the reductions as part of a broader reallocation of resources intended to preserve front-line public safety services while shrinking layers of supervision.
Department leadership outlines next steps amid staffing changes
In an internal email to department staff, Police Chief Axel Henry warned that commander and sergeant ranks may be further reduced through attrition and possible demotions. He wrote that demoted employees would remain on the payroll and retain reinstatement rights. Chief Henry’s message also acknowledged the difficult fiscal picture but expressed confidence in the department’s ability to adjust.
"Our proposal ensures that we maintain core services, but our cuts will necessitate that we re-examine our staffing model and identify efficiencies. Nothing has been decided yet, but we have every confidence in this team's ability to meet any challenge," Chief Henry wrote.
The budget documents and department communications make clear the changes predominantly target vacant supervisory slots rather than eliminating the ranks of patrol officers on the street. Mayor Her’s office has also earmarked funds to bolster police academy training and EMS instruction, signaling an attempt to offset supervision cuts with investment in front-line readiness.
Local context: staffing, oversight and an open complaint
The personnel reductions come while an internal investigation remains open: Chief Henry filed a formal complaint alleging sexual harassment by the mayor involving members of the police department. The investigation has not been closed, and Chief Henry attended the mayor’s budget address with several uniformed officers but did not speak publicly at the event.
City leaders are balancing difficult choices. The mayor’s instructions to cut about 4 percent across departments reflect an effort to close the city’s budget gap without more drastic service reductions, but shrinking supervisory ranks in public safety carries potential operational and morale implications that city officials will have to manage.
- Planned sworn reductions: 616 to 605 sworn officers (11 fewer)
- Supervisory posts removed: 4 commander positions, 7 sergeant positions (vacant)
- Civilian roles removed: Crime Prevention Coordinator, Physical Fitness Coordinator
| Metric | Current | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Sworn SPPD staff | 616 | 605 |
| Commander positions eliminated | — | 4 (vacant) |
| Sergeant positions eliminated | — | 7 (vacant) |
City council members and community observers are expected to scrutinize the proposal as the council negotiates the final 2027 budget, with public safety, library and recreation services already highlighted as areas of potential further reduction in related budget planning. The mayor characterized the moves as necessary realignment; others will weigh the impacts on oversight, officer workload and service delivery as details are debated in the coming months.
Public hearings and council negotiations will determine whether the proposed eliminations, training investments and other adjustments become final decisions for St. Paul’s 2027 budget year.
