"Compared to our brother and sister cities, this city is doing a remarkable job of its citizens living together. We do have a safe city. I don't want to wish any harm or ill will, but isn't it remarkable that today the city of Toledo has six murders and Perrysburg Township has two?"

Perrysburg Township Trustee Robert Mack responded, "The mayor should focus on the merits of the great city of Toledo. It might be inappropriate to reference such a fresh tragedy," Mr. Mack said. "It's a real tragedy and it could happen anywhere."

As a candidate in 2005, Mr. Finkbeiner campaigned to hire more police, setting a goal of a force of 700 officers. The city has about 670 officers now, but faces a deficit of $10 million for 2008, which may not permit hiring more officers, a spokesman for the mayor said.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner highlighted Toledo's current low murder rate yesterday, and scolded politicians who demand that more police officers be hired.

Mr. Finkbeiner suggested some media and some political candidates overemphasize crime. "Every wannabe politician is out there waving the flag, easy flag to wave, 'We need more police,'" Mr. Finkbeiner said. "It's never, 'We need more people to clean up the parks, inspectors to help nuisance abatement.'"

From 1970 to 2005, Toledo's population dropped 21 percent, from 383,818 to 301,285. Police and fire staffing dropped during that time, but not as much. Police manpower declined 6 percent, from 730 uniformed officers in 1970 to 686 in 2005. The number of firefighters fell 9 percent, to 509 in 2005 from 558 in 1970. One number that's stayed fairly constant since 1970 is the city's size: 84 square miles.

"Population is only one factor," Chief Navarre said. "You have to look at socioeconomic issues that may be more important than population and square miles. You also need to look at calls for service."

Police calls increased from 310,169 in 1976 to 542,106 calls in 2005, of which 433,415 were 911 calls. Chief Navarre said the city's police force is "lean compared to cities our size." Toledo is near the bottom of Ohio's major cities with 2.2 officers per 1,000 residents.

On the law enforcement side, Toledo has 683 police officers compared to 1,082 in Cincinnati, where there are more people, but fewer square miles. Cincinnati City Council recently increased the budgeted police complement to 1,115. That city has budgeted for a class of 50 this year, Sgt. Louise Shields said. Akron has 443 police officers and a budgeted strength of 487. It hopes to start a police class next month of up to 40 officers and another class in late fall, police Major Gus Hall said.

Toledo may not get a new police class this year or next. If 50 officers leave through attrition as expected and the force falls to 630, Chief Navarre said, "It's going to require we prioritize." The last time Toledo's police force dropped that low, the chief said, was in the early 1980s. He said the force is in a better position to lose 50 people now than in the early 1980s, when officers took calls, dispatched, and worked in records - jobs now held by civilians.

"It's not like the criminals moved out," said Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association. His suggestions for saving money: cut the mayor's chief-of-staff, Robert Reinbolt, and have fewer command officers take home department vehicles.

Fire runs peaked at 9,247 in 1976 and dropped to 7,175 two years ago. But EMS runs have quadrupled since 1970, to 39,796 in 2005. Toledo has 1.7 firefighters per 1,000 residents, near the bottom among Ohio's big cities, a Blade survey of fire manning showed.

Mark Light, interim executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, said many factors affect the number of firefighters needed, including the age and size of buildings. Ohio's seven big-city fire departments all have mandatory minimum daily staffing levels. Toledo has a total 502 firefighters, and by union contract must have a minimum of 103 on duty daily across its 17 stations. If there are fewer, firefighters are recalled on overtime - a requirement that costs the city millions every year.