Garden City committee recommends confirmation of Officer Russell Counts

The Appointments Committee of the Garden City Council on Aug. 26 recommended the full council confirm Russell Counts to the position of police officer following completion of his probationary period. Mayor (name not specified) told the committee, “Officer Counts has completed his probationary period with the Garden City Police Department. All the reports that I've received from the chief and the deputy chief have been very positive in his work here with the city, and I've heard nothing but good things about him.”

The committee’s recommendation came after Counts introduced himself and described his move from Jupiter, Fla., and his 14 years of experience there. “I met my wife in Florida, and she's from up here,” Counts said, explaining his family ties and relocation. The mayor and other presenters said Counts had “hit the ground running” and that the department benefited from hiring an experienced lateral recruit rather than training a recruit from the ground up.

Councilor Kacinskas moved that the committee recommend confirmation of the mayor’s appointment; Councilor Hagelin seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The committee and city leaders framed the hire as a retention of experienced personnel who require less academy training time and can provide immediate patrol capacity. Counts’ hiring also reflects the department’s use of lateral recruiting to fill vacancies.

The committee recorded no substantive objections during the discussion. The recommendation now moves to the full city council for final confirmation.