After going so far as to interview and narrow its recruit list, St. Paul police have scuttled an April police academy in the face of proposed budget cuts and anecdotal evidence that fewer officers are retiring in the faltering economy.

The move comes three months after Minneapolis graduated an academy of 20 recruits only to promptly lay off 19 of them (along with six officers) due to budget issues. Minneapolis eventually rehired 15 of them using federal stimulus dollars.

St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington decided Monday to cancel St. Paul's April police academy to avoid a similar situation.

"They were about to begin background checks and psychiatric evaluations," said St. Paul police spokesman Sgt. Paul Schnell. "All of that stuff is essentially put on hold."

Gov. Tim Pawlenty unveiled a budget plan early last month that would cut $250 million in aid to local governments, a move that has cities across the state panicked.

St. Paul had hoped to enroll up to 20 recruits who would undergo a year's worth of training. The department had narrowed its list to about 30 contenders.

"It's too bad," said St. Paul City Council Member Dan Bostrom, a former St. Paul cop whose son is an assistant chief in the department. "The way things have been going recently, it's the prudent thing to do."

A typical academy costs the city at least $250,000, said Schnell, who added that the city's safety will not be affected by the postponement.

Financial issues aside, it's possible that the department will have to hire new recruits soon. The department, which is in the early stages of finding a new police chief, is authorized to have 610 officers, and is currently at 605 with two retirements to come in the next few months. St. Paul Police Federation President David Titus said he expects 15 officers to retire this year.

"We have to keep our staffing at at least 610 to retain our federal funds," said Titus, who supports the cancellation.

The department will revisit whether to hold an academy in the fall, depending on funding and available jobs.

Anecdotally, said Schnell and other Twin Cities officers, fewer cops are retiring because of the poor economy. St. Paul loses about 20 to 30 officers annually to attrition and retirement, Schnell said, but that has "slowed somewhat dramatically."

Minneapolis police lost 21 officers through resignations and retirements in 2006. Only 13 officers resigned or retired in 2009.

"People are afraid to give up their jobs, give up their benefits," said Minneapolis Police Federation President Sgt. John Delmonico. "Somebody hears of an agency having trouble either hiring people or laying them off, or getting as close as St. Paul did, I think that's going to be a red flag for a lot of recruits, who are going to ask, 'Should I put my heart and soul here?' "

Jesse Trebesch, 21, of Maple Grove, graduated from the Minneapolis academy in December and is among the 10 recruits who were laid off and not rehired. Although he didn't apply for the St. Paul academy, he can't help but feel empathetic.

"My first thought is, 'Bummer,'" he said.

Trebesch hopes Minneapolis police will hire him one day. Until then, he is keeping his eyes on the big picture.

"It's happening everywhere," he said. "I'm just waiting for that call from Minneapolis."

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391