12 - PRESENTATIONS/CHARTER AMENDMENTS/POLICE DEPT/RECYCLING PROGRAM

Home Browse Search

Meeting about retention of Police Officers June 15, 2015 at 5:20 p.m. Those attending the meeting were Mayor Hashmi, Council Member Lancaster, Council Member Plata, City Manager John Godwin, Police Chief Bob Hundley and City Clerk Janice Ellis. Mayor Hashmi said the purpose of this meeting was to figure out what could be done to retain police officers, because a lot of officers were leaving the police department. He told Chief Hundley they would like to learn what was taking place at the PD so that the council can be appraised of the situation. Mayor Hashmi also told Chief Hundley he was under no obligation to implement any suggestions, that came out of this meeting and he should follow what the city manager says the primary objective here for the council to assist them in helping out with the situation as it pertains to making policies for future. Council Member Plata inquired if Chief Hundley felt there was a morale issue and Chief Hundley answered yes. Council Member Plata inquired of the issues. Chief Hundley said some officers leave because they were asked to leave, some leave for better pay and more opportunities for advancement. Council Member Plata inquired about the rotation into the Investigation Division. Chief Hundley explained the organization of the Police Department citing most of the officers were in patrol which was approximately 38 -39 officers. He said the PD was not fully staffed at this time and officers are frustrated right now because they are short- staffed. He also said they had not been rotating officers because they were short- staffed, but in the past they rotated officers on a three month period to work as a misdemeanor investigator. Council Member Plata asked if he could visit with some of the police officers and Chief Hundley, as well as Mr. Godwin said that would be fine. Mayor Hashmi asked Chief Hundley and Mr. Godwin if there would be any repercussions to the officers that spoke to Council Member Plata, to which Chief Hundley and Mr. Godwin assured that there would be none. Council Member Plata said it was his understanding that security jobs were given to those with the most seniority. Chief Hundley confirmed that was his policy and those with seniority could first select four security jobs from the list. He also explained that some of the security jobs required more work than others and there were times that no one selected the security jobs requiring more work. Chief Hundley also explained that because the PD has shifts certain officers may not be available to work off -duty security jobs. Council Member Plata suggested it would be fairer if a list was made and off -duty security jobs were offered to everyone and if an officer was on duty for the PD that he continued to stay on the list, at the top until he was available to work the security job.