|
The resignation of two Dewey Beach police reduced the number of full-time officers from eight to six, and Chief Sam Mackert wants to replace at least one of them. Mackert says he’s in a quandary because Town Manager Gordon Elliott told him to delay hiring any replacements because of the town’s budgetary situation.
“With only six people we are stretched too thin. This is a recipe that could lead to disaster,” Mackert said.
Addressing Dewey commissioners at their Friday, Aug. 8 meeting, Mackert said the police have steadfastly tried to minimize overtime expenditures. A delay in hiring at least one replacement will result in significant overtime, Mackert said. He also said that if he’s not allowed to hire soon they will probably lose two qualified officers who already work for the department and want the positions.
No money to hire
Elliott said in a Monday, Aug. 11 interview the town is facing a $359,000 budgetary shortfall. “We can’t just go out and hire someone. Somewhere along the line we have to say ‘stop spending.’ I don’t want to cut the police department at all,” Elliott said, “But who’s got the highest budget? Police and lifeguards.”
Elliott said the police department has operated with fewer than eight full-time officers before and that in 2000 it dropped to only five officers.
“Public safety is a big issue, but the police budget at the start was over $1 million,” Elliott said.
However, according to Mackert, his is the only town department with two budgets to operate, one for full-time staff and another for seasonal employees. “We need eight full-time officers year-round to efficiently and effectively meet the public safety needs of the town,” Mackert said. “If there have to be cuts, they have to be made to the summer budget.”
Mackert said he is very concerned by many factors, including several recent armed robberies in the area and other incidents that require the assistance of experienced officers. “I’m not going to put our men in jeopardy because of administrative issues,” Mackert said.
With two seasonal officers on medical leaves of absence after being assaulted on Aug. 3, Mackert said the town would be in trouble if the department loses another officer for any reason.
The fall season is very busy and it’s hurricane season, Mackert said, adding the town could face another major emergency like last year’s power outage. Though he wants to keep the seasonal officers through Halloween, he said he might have to let them go Monday, Sept. 15 because of the town’s budget problems.
Though two officers resigned, one continues to be paid salary and benefits. As a result Mackert said he and the officers beneath him are willing to compromise and accept one replacement instead of two. The one salary and benefits package now available and already included in the police department budget is more than enough to hire one full-time replacement officer, Mackert said.
“The chief was very worried about it and we’re worried about it up here,” said Commissioner Dale Cooke during the town council meeting. “We’re in a budget crunch; there’s no doubt about it.”
Commissioner Claire Walsh said she recognizes the budgetary constraints but thinks the town needs to find something else to cut. “I don’t think any one of us wants to put the hammer down on public safety,” she said.
Commissioner Rich Hanewinckel questioned the difference between paying overtime and paying for full-time replacement officers. He asked Town Attorney Glenn Mandalas if Dewey would be exposed to liability if something happened at a time when the police force was understaffed. Mandalas said he thinks the courts will hesitate to find liability.
Candidates available
Mackert says he has excellent candidates for the full-time positions. “We have two certified, experienced police officers who are good employees. Both of them like working in Dewey Beach, like the people, like the layout of the town and want a career with the Dewey Beach Police Department,” he said.
One began with the Georgetown Police Department and worked for the Delaware State Police for three years. The other was an officer in Seaford for three years and also worked as a Sussex County paramedic. Both took positions as part-time officers in Dewey this summer.Dewey
Mackert said cost factors support hiring one of the two officers now. If they accept positions elsewhere, he said, Dewey would probably have to send another candidate to the state police academy for officer training where he could become injured during training, or decide that law enforcement is not for him and quit.
Even if the department locates a good candidate who completes training at the police academy and returns to Dewey, an experienced officer has to provide direct supervision for the rookie for eight weeks during which the rookie is not allowed to ride alone. The town still loses thousands of dollars, Mackert said, adding that the last candidate Dewey sent to the police academy quit after approximately six months.
Speaking during the town council meeting, Dewey resident Vivian Barry said it was obvious the town should hire one of the officers now. “They are already officers, don’t need to be trained and want to be in the town,” she told the commissioners. Mayor Dell Tush said she will meet with Mackert and Elliott to discuss the hiring issue.
|
