Dukakis Budget Would Increase City Policemen

After three years of budget tightening under Proposition 2 1/2. Cambridge may finally be able to put more policemen on the streets, city officials said yesterday.

A new anti-crime bill announced last week by Gov. Michael S. Dukakis would add 600 officers to police departments across the state, and provide more than $10 million for new and expanded crime prevention programs at the municipal level.

None of the increased local aid would be actually earmarked for police budgets, but earmarking would be considered in "a year or two" if the Governor's goals are not met, said Bob Cunningham.. state undersecretary for public safety.

The new anti-crime program is one of several recommendations included in the budget Dukakis with the state legislature tomorrow. The budget includes a $150 million increase in local aid overall, Cunningham said.

City Manager Robert W. Healy said yesterday that although the amount of money the city would receive under the proposed budget is still uncertain, "public safety will be one of our top priorities" in distributing the funds.

"We'd like to try to restore our police and firefighter manpower to their pre Proposition 2 1/2 levels," Healy said. The Cambridge Police lost 15 positions as a result of Proposition 2 1/2's mandated reductions in property tax revenues.

Lieutenant Timothy Toomey, executive assistant to the Cambridge chief of police, said yesterday that the department would "welcome any outside help" to hire more officers.

"Our budget has been very strict the last few years," he added, "and we all know we're operating understrength.

Officials in several other communities have said that increases in their police budgets are unlikely, because public safety personnel have not been substantially hurt by recent budget cuts.