Trustee Keanna Belcher told the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees that the village has added a new police officer and that the Police and Fire Commission has approved a vendor to help create an eligibility list for future hires.

"As of today, we have another police officer. So we are gradually making sure that we have bodies on the street," Trustee Keanna Belcher said at the meeting. She said the Police and Fire Commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month and will work to distribute the eligibility list so the village can continue hiring.

Belcher praised police leadership and linked department morale to service delivery. "I'd like to thank Chief Chapman for everything he's been doing since he's been here. It really is showing the morale in the department makes a difference because morale provides better service," she said.

Belcher also said she had no report for the fire department. The board did not take any formal personnel actions or votes on hiring during the portion of the meeting covered in the transcript; the commission’s vendor approval was reported as already completed.

Trustees indicated the commission’s work on the eligibility list is intended to speed hiring, and the commission will continue meeting monthly to further that work.