Matthews said trustees will continue to keep an eye on the issue as the growth progresses in the township.
“We know there is a desire to have more, but there are budget constraints that need to be resolved,” he said. “We want to look at that closely.”
The cost of hiring an officer can run in the range of $75,000, depending on fringe benefits, said Ron Hess, the township’s interim police chief. The officers hired this year put the police department – which has a $5.48 million budget — at 37 full-time personnel, four short of the level authorized by the township, Hess said.
“We’re not so low that that we cannot provide services to the township,” he said. “Whether we have 34 people or 37, we still provide township services.”
But being down in staff restricts the number of officers on patrol, affects response times and can hinder the department’s ability to offer mutual aid, among other issues, he said.
“Staffing doesn’t just represent officers on the road – it talks about detectives and task force operators.” Hess said. “When you get up to full strength, you have the ability to branch out a bit.”
Hess replaced John “Chris” Krug, who retired last June. When he started, Hess said, the department was down in staff due largely to the failure of a November 2012 levy and officers who failed to last through hiring probation periods. The levy passed in May 2013, allowing for the recently-hired officers, Hess said.
Going forward, Hess said it is his goal to add one officer per year until authorized staffing levels are reached. A key issue will be how far the department can stretch its funds, he said.
Meanwhile, township officials will continue to consider police department staffing levels as they develop a strategic plan. The plan, which is expected to be completed this year, will involve some “staff movement,” township Administrator Greg Rogers has said.
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