Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City manager reports departures of several Hot Springs police officers to state agency; staffing strain noted
Summary
City Manager Bill Burrow reported that six Hot Springs police officers recently left to join the Arkansas State Police, adding to local recruitment challenges and increasing pressure on the department to keep full rosters.
City Manager Bill Burrow told the board the Hot Springs Police Department has seen a cluster of departures to the Arkansas State Police. Burrow said two new officers were sworn in Aug. 21 and left Aug. 25 to attend the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, but he also reported an email from the chief indicating three additional officers sought and obtained employment with the state agency, bringing the total to six recent departures.
Burrow said the officers who left were two- to three-year veterans and praised their work while noting the chief faces difficulty maintaining a full slate of officers. "It's been really tough for the chief to keep a full slate of officers," Burrow said. He said the city is recruiting but did not provide specific retention or recruitment incentives during the public report.
Discussion vs. decision: This was an informational report from city management; no board action was taken at the meeting.
Background and next steps: The two new officers began their 13-week basic training at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy; city staff will continue recruitment and assign field-training officers when recruits return to active duty.
