MORENO VALLEY – (INT) – ‘Severe fiscal constraints’ are forcing the city to scale back police protection beginning Monday.

The number of sworn sheriff’s deputies will be scaled back to 154 or less than one deputy per 1,000 residents.

The reductions over the next two fiscal years will put Moreno Valley’s police staffing 34% lower than in cities of comparable population.

In a statement issued Saturday, Chief Deputy Sheriff John Anderson emphasized that his staff will continue to prioritize and respond to all life-threatening and emergency calls, but that non-emergency and routine calls may not be handled as fast.

“We can expect response times to increase, crime rates to increase, a reduction in pro-active policing time available and our ability to address routine "quality of life" issues. Like many California cities, Moreno Valley has suffered the effects of a slow economy”, Anderson said.

Story Date: July 2, 2013