For the first time in his 20 years in law enforcement, a police chief is forced to consider the possibility of laying off officers. Ladysmith Police Chief Dean Meyer says tough times call for tough measures. But, he also says his department is willing to do whatever it takes to avoid any cuts.

Ten people make up the Ladysmith police force: Two officers per shift. But, the department is prepping for two less.

"It's scary in the fact that our backup would be really late,” says Officer Adam Olson. “We'd have to rely on the county (sheriff's department) for all our assistance which means they could be a half hour or so out."

It's for reasons like that that officers like Olson voted to cut their contracted pay raise in half next year and even each take an unpaid week off if it'll save jobs.

"These guys care about each other and they care about the city,” Meyer says. “It's just amazing that they've taken it upon themselves to help get us through these difficult times."

Chief Meyer says the city's police and fire commission will consider a report detailing the cost savings of cutting two officers, but he'll also let the members know how those cuts would affect safety and service to the community.

"We hope that by looking into it this early, planning this early, we can prevent this from even happening," Meyer says.

The chief says the department would lose one patrol officer and the department's only drug enforcement officer. He says both would be huge hits for the city since right now each officer handles about 450 cases each year. He says last year the drug enforcement officer worked on 34 or 35 cases. There's been 20 to 25 already this year.

"It's been a tremendous asset for us," Meyer says.

Chief Meyer says if the city was to cut two officers, it would only save about $48,000 because of the overtime costs to cover vacation time and emergencies on a short staff. It's a cut he says is "absolutely not" worth that dollar amount. And it's a cut, he too hopes to prevent; he asked that his salary be frozen for next year.

"I think that's the least I can do," Chief Meyer says.

"You always think of law enforcement as a second family,” Olson says. “We work 10 hour shifts. We're with these guys as much as we are with our families or at home.”

Chief Meyer says he is grateful that the commission and the city are looking into the cuts early instead of making "heat of the moment" choices under budget deadlines.

Ladysmith Mayor Dan Gudis says right now the city is just weighing all options. Ladysmith is looking at around a $240,000 budget shortfall next year.