Auburn Police Officers' Wives Take To Streets To Support Husbands They Say Need Backup

AUBURN (CBS13) — The wives of police officers took to the streets of Auburn on Friday to protest what they say are unsafe working conditions for their husbands after cutbacks.

The wives say their husbands' voices aren't being heard, so they're telling the community their husbands need backup.

Peggy Hardesty feels scared and afraid when her husband goes to work.

"Their lives and the lives of their families are being put at risk," she said.

She and two-dozen other wives of Auburn Police officers demonstrated at the courthouse on Friday, saying department cuts are jeopardizing their husbands' and the community's safety.

"Before this current chief came there were 26 officers we are now down to 16 with one soon leaving," she said.

They say October's deadly rampage that killed a Placer County Sheriff's detective and a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy was a wakeup call.

Auburn Mayor Bridget Powers doesn't deny the staffing cuts, But defended the city's actions, saying in a statement: "Our police do an excellent job of keeping auburn safe. However we have limited resources and must manage those resources carefully for the benefit of taxpayers."

The officers' wives say they will continue their protests until changes are made.

The city says since it is currently going through union negotiations with officers, it hopes it can continue having conversations rather than protests.