The New York Police Dept. could save at least $1.5 million by replacing 121 cops who do computer work with civilian workers, but it continues to consider police applicants who don't even have the professional skills for the job.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's January budget called for expanding the civilian work force to help reduce the $5 billion gap. On May 2, DC 37 issued a plan to save the city $600 million, including expanding civilianization to cut costs by $127 million.

Yet on May 15, the NYPD circulated a personnel bulletin to recruit a lieutenant or sergeant for a top supervisory position in the Management Information Systems Division.

Remarkably, the job posting indicated that computer skills aren't needed for the position at MISD, which maintains all the computer systems at NYPD. "While prior computer knowledge/training is preferred, this is not an absolute requirement," the posting stated.

"The job posting is a slap in the face to our members and to the union," said DC 37 Secretary Edward W. Hysyk, president of Data Processing Employees Local 2627, which includes 187 civilian computer workers at NYPD.

"We are unable to discern the rationale for using uniformed officers of advanced rank for this position," DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts wrote in a May 29 letter to Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

Two weeks after the job posting, City Comptroller Bill Thompson released an audit that concluded that the city could save $15 million a year by replacing 831 cops, including 121 of 122 in MISD, with lower-paid civilians. The MISD savings would be $1.5 million.

"Those 121 cops could provide a lot of protection for the people of New York City," Mr. Hysyk said. "Obviously, the NYPD doesn't think much of $1.5 million."