WESTMINSTER : Council OKs Hiring of 2 Police Officers
The City Council has authorized the Police Department to hire two police officers and approved upgrading several city staff positions.
One police officer position had been frozen because of budget cutbacks, and the council last week approved filling that vacancy. The council also approved replacing the officer who will become a full-time member of the regional auto theft task force.
When the two positions are filled, the force will have 102 members.
Hiring another officer is necessary, Police Chief James Cook said, because the department is filling the vacancies in the staff through overtime, which costs as much or more as hiring another officer.
“They can’t get by and maintain the number of cars they need on patrol without overtime or an extra officer,” said Finance Director Brian Mayhew. A police officer position costs the city about $65,000, Mayhew said.
“It’s cheaper and more cost-effective to hire another officer,” Mayhew said.
The council also authorized the city to continue its computer replacement program in the city offices and approved a promotion in the purchasing department.
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