By SYDNEY KENT
Ossian Police Chief Kurt Jack gave members of the town’s Board of Police Commissioners an update Tuesday evening on the process of hiring new full-time police officers.
Jack says there are some “good leads” currently in the mix among 27 applications; five of those potential officers would be a lateral shift from another department.
Jack said the earliest start date for non-lateral applicants is January of 2024, due to the time it will take to complete training and additional requirements. Jack says that the next step in the hiring process, agility testing, and the police written exam, will take place at 10 a.m. May 20.
Also discussed Tuesday evening was the police department’s D.A.R.E. van, which has been used minimally over the last seven years.
“We just don’t have the manpower to do that,” Jack said, regarding the town’s participation in the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The board discussed potentially donating the van to the Parks Department or another police department participating in the program. The board agreed that more research is needed to determine any next steps.
The board learned from Jack that the department is in the process of creating an inventory and inspecting its equipment.
Also, he said, Watchguard camera systems will be placed in two new cars this week, and police cars and handguns are set to qualify with new guidelines on May 16 and 17.
The board also:
• Agreed to approach the town council at its meeting next Monday to see if monthly mileage or budget and salary reports are still needed at the police commissioners’ meetings each month.
• Agreed that the entire department should all use the same email server through the city of Ossian, rather than alternative email options such as Gmail, mainly for security and accessibility purposes.
• Stated that updated department policies, specifically regarding vehicle policies and uniform updates, should be ready next month.
The next regular meeting of the board of commissioners is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the Collier’s Comfort building, 215 N. Jefferson St.
sydney@news-banner.com
