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LaSalle council approves hiring two patrol officers to address staffing shortfalls
Summary
Council approved hiring two patrol officers from the eligibility list to replace officers lost to injury/retirement and to prepare for future retirements; police chief outlined training timeline and recruitment conditions.
The LaSalle City Council approved a request to hire two candidates from the patrolman eligibility list per the recommendation of the police and fire commissioners.
Police leadership told the council the department is short-staffed on night shifts because of injuries and anticipated retirements. "My commander has been stepping up to the plate in investigations and doing both," the police chief said during the meeting, describing periods of heavy call volume and the department's need to restore staffing balance. The chief said the current list expires in about a year and that he had identified candidates from the top of the list.
Council heard a staffing and training timeline: the chief said the police academy (PTI) now takes 16 weeks, followed by a field training officer (FTO) period of about 12 to 14 weeks, with additional time for possible probation extensions; he described an overall onboarding horizon of roughly eight to nine months to produce a fully trained officer.
Council members moved and seconded the hiring request; the roll call recorded unanimous approval. The chief said one candidate on the list speaks Spanish and that a lateral hire was also anticipated.
The hiring decision was framed as preparing the department for near-term retirements and to ensure the incoming police chief will inherit a more-stable staffing level. Councilors asked about the list's expiration and the number of candidates available; the chief said he anticipated vacancies because of retirements within two to three years and argued for hiring ahead of those departures.
The council approved the request to hire two patrol officers as presented; further administrative steps will follow to place the new officers on the roster and schedule training.
