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Council debates police staffing, sheriff overtime reimbursement and cooperative agreement gaps
Summary
Council members questioned police staffing levels, use of sheriff's deputies for coverage and a $15,920.03 overtime reimbursement request from the sheriff; no formal payment motion is recorded in the transcript.
Bastrop City Council members spent significant time on Sept. 11 discussing police staffing, the city's reliance on the parish sheriff's office for patrol coverage and an overtime reimbursement request from the sheriff's office totaling $15,920.03 for a defined period.
Staff presented a memorandum outlining overtime and salary reimbursement requests covering a June 28 to Aug. 20 period and totaling $15,920.03. Council members asked whether a cooperative agreement (CA) with the sheriff's office remained in force and noted the city's police department had limited hours on some days, which increased reliance on deputies. Staff and the chief described current patrol patterns and explained that when the city does not staff full shifts, the sheriff's office provides coverage; the chief said the department typically fields three officers on shift when open and that deputies normally supplement with two deputies per shift when the city department is not fully staffed.
Council members expressed concern that recurring payments to the sheriff's office for overtime could strain the police overtime budget. Staff noted the department had been saving in overtime through management but that an additional $15,000 invoice would offset those savings without a standing CA in place. Members discussed arranging a meeting among the mayor, council and sheriff to clarify roles, expectations and the need for a formal agreement.
The transcript records extended discussion and requests for a plan to reduce overtime expense; however, the record does not show a council vote approving the reimbursement at this meeting. Councilmembers indicated the matter would require either a formal cooperative agreement or a council resolution to authorize payment.
The council asked that staff and the mayor meet with the sheriff's office to seek a sustainable arrangement and to return to the council with options to prevent ongoing budgetary impacts.
