Milton police committee to make recommendation to council
The Milton Ad Hoc Police Committee spent its entire July 29 meeting working behind closed doors, as members discussed personal information about specific officers and salaries.
Shortly after reconvening for the public, the committee voted to recommend an unspecified figure "for the officer who comes in after academy." The information will be presented to town council at its Monday, Aug. 5 meeting.
The committee discussed the department's patrol schedules and the topic of filling vacant positions and retention for more than an hour in executive session. The committee is set to meet again Monday, Aug. 19, to discuss the town's vehicle policy and responding to calls outside of town limits.
Mayor Marion Jones established the committee shortly after taking office in April. The group met for the first time in early July, but Chief William Phillips was absent due to illness. The committee is charged with analyzing the police department, including personnel needs, scheduling and the budget.
During former Mayor Cliff Newlands' administration, town council voted against hiring the International Association of Chiefs of Police to do a comparable study. The majority of council members at the time said the work could be done utilizing resources already available in town.
In the last month, the force has dropped from 10 officers to seven. Another officer is on sick leave until the end of the summer, meaning the department is operating with six officers for the next two months. The department had as many as 11 officers last year, when the town utilized a federal grant to pay for the salary and fringe benefits of one officer.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
