Plain City Council approves hiring two police cadets and seeks academy slots

Plain City Council voted unanimously to move forward with hiring two conditional police cadets and to seek academy slots that would allow the recruits to complete formal training in time to help cover an expected retirement in mid‑next year.

Council members discussed recent panel interviews and candidate availability during a public staffing update. Miss Lupton, who summarized the hiring process, said two candidates had canceled panel interviews but four applicants were interviewed and ranked by the panel. She reported the top candidate initially had academy training but later failed a background check; other candidates include one who would need to attend academy and a U.S. Marine relocating from Virginia who is under consideration.

Council members pressed on timing and budget. Members said sending conditional hires to the October academy would likely allow them to graduate in the spring (the transcript referenced an April timeframe) and provide in‑car training ahead of an expected detective retirement (Detective Greenbaum). Council members confirmed budgeted salary funds for a replacement are available and discussed the possibility of a supplemental appropriation if hires begin mid‑year.

A motion "to move forward with the two officer cadets" was made and seconded; roll call votes (Mister Perriman, Mister Lewis, Mister Senz, Mister Terry, Miss Ferguson) recorded unanimous approval and the motion passed 5–0.

The council directed staff to pursue available academy slots and to return with any budget adjustments or implementation details. The next steps described in the meeting were completing conditional offers, securing academy placement (staff said a slot in October was possible), and preparing standard conditional‑hire agreements for cadets awaiting academy training.

The hiring package was adopted as a personnel matter in the meeting’s public portion; council later entered executive session on a separate agenda item.