Wixom council approves sponsorship of two Oakland Police Academy candidates, allocates $69,721

The Wixom City Council on a unanimous voice vote approved sponsoring two applicants through the Oakland Police Academy and allocating $69,721 across four police accounts.

The funding covers $34,717 to desk aids (account 101-301-703.377), $16,304 to cadet fringe benefits (account 101-301-711.110), $7,000 to uniforms (account 101-301-956.372) and $11,700 to police training (account 101-301-955.200). Council approved the recommendation after a brief discussion of staffing and grant coverage.

Chief Langemeier told the council the grant that supports academy sponsorship does not cover all required purchases for trainees, saying, "The grant doesn't cover some of the things that we have to buy for them." He said the city covers the remaining items and confirmed the department's overtime budget is sufficient to cover interim staffing needs: "Our overtime budget is fine." Deputy Mayor Reznick and council members pressed the chief about attrition and whether grant-backed service aides could be subject to clawbacks; Langemeier said an initial agreement includes provisions the city uses when trainees leave early.

Council members asked how long academy training lasts and how the department will maintain coverage while two positions are vacant; Langemeier described temporary reassignment of duties and use of overtime until trainees are sworn in. The council made no changes to the recommendation and voted it approved.

The action directs payment from the listed accounts and authorizes the sponsorship; no roll-call vote was recorded in the minutes beyond the council's voice vote.

The council approved the measure as its first new-business item after the consent agenda and a public-comment period.