YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Police Association Patrol Division says a decision to transfer seven patrol officers to community policing duties is “unreasonable and dangerous” and asks police Chief Carl Davis to reverse the decision.

The message came in a press release Thursday saying the department cannot withstand the loss of seven officers from patrol duties to community policing because the department’s staffing levels are “the lowest in recorded history.”

The press release cited statements from Lt. Brian Butler, staff inspector for the department, in a recent Vindicator article that quoted Butler saying that the department wants to hire 25 more officers, and that would still not fully staff the department.

“While a community police unit is a great program that benefits the community and department, removing personnel from the patrol unit becomes a problem because now those that are left are expected to be mandated to fill the open shifts and work 16-hour days,” the release states.

Davis’ secretary, Carol Flores, replied to a Vindicator email asking for comment from the chief by saying Davis may have time this afternoon to talk about the letter after a press conference.

Davis earlier Thursday invited reporters to a press conference at 12:30 p.m. today at the police department, where he and Mayor Jamael Tito Brown will talk about the kickoff of a new anti-crime initiative.

At the top of the union news release is the name of the president of the union, patrolman James D. Rowley, and other union officers.

The release states that the summer months “bring our busiest time of the year” and can also be the most violent time of the year.”

The release adds that “Mandating officers to work 16-hour days multiple times per week to staff the patrol turns that have been depleted for a luxury unit will exhaust our members and bring about safety concerns for our officers and the community.”

The letter states that the move will result in “even longer response times.”

The letter noted that two officers are expected to retire mid-summer and three more by February 2023. Fifty-eight officers work patrol, but five are new hires still in training, the press release states.

erunyan@vindy.com