HomeMy WebLinkAboutCops Grant Hire 1997 POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
1416857 TH STREET NORTH • P.O. BOX 2007 LINDY SWANSON
OAK PARK HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA 55082 CHIEF OF POLICE
® TELEPHONE: (612) 439 -4723
FAX: (612) 439 -3639
EMERGENCY: 911
DATE: June 20, 1997
TO: Mayor David Schaaf
Councilmembers
FROM: Chief Lindy Swanson
SUBJ: Police Dept. -new hire
As you recall, at the May 27, 1997 meeting of the Oak Park Heights City Council, I had requested
initial authorization to apply for a federal grant to assist our city in hiring another police officer.
It is my belief that with continued commercial and residential expansion within our community
and anticipated annexation of properties to our community, we will soon have to hire another
police officer if we are to continue the current level of service to the residents of Oak Park
Heights. As mentioned at the previous council meeting, it is my feeling that we should take
advantage of the federal grant monies being offered at this time. It will enable our community to
get another officer now rather than wait until there may not be federal grant money offered. I
believe we would actually be getting the benefit of the new employee immediately at little cost.
As mentioned previously, by hiring another police officer I will be able to decrease overtime costs.
At this time, I have to cover open shifts of five members of the police dept. These shift
openings would be the result of either vacation, sick leave, personal leave day, or floating holiday
use. Also, we could lose the use of an employee due to job related injury (as has happened within
the recent past). Of the five employees whose shifts need to be filled when vacant, I come up with
a total of 120 hours at 8 hours per shift for a total of 960 hours. Our current average for overtime
pay on the patrol level is $34.68 per hour. During the summer months I can avoid overtime pay
by assigning our school liaison officer to fill in the vacant patrol shifts. I also use our one and only
part-time police officer when he is available. The fact is, several if not half of our open shifts
occur during non - summer months. If I have to fill just half of the open shifts, 480 hours, I am
facing a cost of approx. $16,646. I still have overtime for court & training time.
If another employee is hired, I come up with an approx. cost for the first year of $45,141. If we
happen to get approved for a federal grant, the grant would cover 50% of this figure leaving
our first year estimated cost of approx. $22,570. If we subtract anticipated overtime costs from
our share, we appear to get the benefit of another employee for a relatively low cost.
The clock is running and a decision has to be made. The last grant deadline for 1997 is August 1,
1997. The grant has to be received by that date. I will be at the meeting of the city council on
July 24, 1997 to answer any questions and/or comments that you might have.