Five threatened community crime prevention specialists are back in the city's 2012 budget, along with money to offset a cut in domestic abuse prosecution proposed by Mayor R.T. Rybak.

The City Council's budget committee shifted money from the police department's budget savings this year to finance the crime workers, whom Rybak also proposed to eliminate to make his no-increase property levy proposal.

The shift drew particular support from council members in the outer wards of the city who stand to lose the most. Others among the department's civilian crime prevention workers who work in eligible inner-city areas are funded by federal community development dollars, which also are threateneed under federal budget cuts.

"For many residents, they're the face of the police department," said Council Member Elizabeth Glidden. The workers focus on livability crimes ranging from drug dealing to poorly maintained rental housing with problem tenants.

The panel also directed the department to look at other positions that could be handled by possibly less-well-paid civilians under a Glidden amendment.

Also restored was $317,000 in funding for the city attorney's highly successful domestic abuse prosecution effort, under which the conviction rate has risen sharply as police have adoprted improved techniques for handling such cases. That money also comes from police reserves.

Police Chief Tim Dolan drew praise from council members for managing his budget in a way that freed money for the two programs. Dolan several years ago was criticized for the department's budget controls, but has since cut such items as phones, vehicles and overtime.

Both actions don't solve funding issues for the two programs after 2012, although Dolan was directed to devise one both for the crime prevention workers and his officers. That includes a projection of attrition among officers, which is how the department will shrink its ranks by 10 officers in 2012.