By GLEN WERLING
Ossian police officer Russ Mounsey has requested to return to a part-time position on the force.
His request was effective Sept. 3. He plans to remain on a regular shift at 30 hours per week.
The request was approved by Ossian Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners Caleb Chichester and Bob Miller during a regular meeting of the board Tuesday. Board member Stan Reed was unable to attend the meeting.
Chichester said Mounsey’s reasoning for shifting to part-time was personal and did not elaborate.
Mounsey started out on the force as a part-time officer then went full time three years ago. He will join Dennis Fiscus and Larry Butler as part-time officers on the force.
Both observed the move puts a bind on the Ossian Police Department, as both Chief David Rigney and Sgt. Stephanie Tucker plan to retire this year. That could possibly leave officer Brian McClish as the only full-time police officer on the force.
But the board members have hope to have a replacement for Rigney in place before he leaves.
Tuesday night, Chichester reviewed changes he recently made in the application process for the opening at the chief of police position.
During the course of the discussion, it was decided to include a specific date for the deadline for applications in the advertisement, restrict applicants to Indiana residents, and a request for applicants’ certifications and training.
Chichester and Miller then approved of posting the request for applications.
Tucker informed the board members that part-time officer Nick White has resigned to accept a full-time position with emergency medical services elsewhere.
Chichester and Miller agreed to post an opening for a part-time position with law enforcement agencies in Wells and Adams counties.
In other business, the board members:
• Learned from Rigney that 3,933 miles were driven by the officers, of which 1,598 were commuter miles. The department, in spite of driving fewer miles, was still over budget for fuel expense for the month $1,329.89. The budgeted monthly fuel expense is $1,166.67.
• Learned from Rigney that during the reporting period July 10-Aug. 6, the department’s officers logged 46.25 hours of overtime. Rigney had the most at 31 followed by Mounsey at 13.25 and McClish with two.
• Learned from Tucker she is meeting with officials from the vendor ERS regarding the upgrade to the interview room.
• Learned from Tucker that the new patrol vehicle still has not yet been delivered.
• Reviewed and adopted a new letterhead for the board of commissioners.
• Approved holding off approval of the August meeting minutes because neither board members present had received the minutes, even though they had reportedly been sent Aug. 26.
• Miller expressed his thanks to the Ossian Town Council for adopting the pay matrix.
The board meets again at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Collier’s Comfort building.
glenw@news-banner.com
