The Auburn Police and Fire Departments are overworked and undermanned. The police make do with three patrol officers and one supervisor on most days, when it should be four patrol officers and two supervisors between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The officers are working 16-hour shifts. I do not want an officer responding to a call on his third day and 15th hour of duty.

The Fire Department has three men on a truck Mondays through Fridays; weekends it is two men. When called to a fire, they respond but cannot do anything until a backup unit arrives unless a life is threatened. Who knows where backup is coming from? So they have to watch a house burn. Police will also respond.

My calculations says the best bet is a fire on a weekday, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., and hope no one else needs them!

Auburn officials have created a safety hazard for all, but don’t forget the beautiful new city building with its $350,000 in new furnishings. Perhaps city officials want to keep police, firefighters and citizens unsafe.

So far, the city has been lucky, but someone will get hurt.

Donna Lyons Rowell, Auburn