Oak Harbor Police CAB reviews recruitment, National Night Out, citizen academy and police staffing updates

The Oak Harbor Police Community Advisory Board opened with roll call and handled routine business, including motions to approve the meeting agenda and the Feb. 4 minutes. No public commenters were present during the allotted comment period.

Board members discussed CAP membership and recruitment of a student representative; River Powers reported ongoing outreach and said no finalized applicants had been received. The board also agreed to ask city leadership about hosting a CAB booth at National Night Out and to invite other advisory boards to participate. Members expressed interest in a future ICOM (citizen academy) presentation; staff and the chief will coordinate logistics and return with proposed dates.

Deputy Chief Barton reported internal police updates: sergeant promotion testing was completed with two candidates moving to executive interviews; the department is recruiting three entry-level officers (positions tied to a COPS grant) and is conducting assessment-stage recruitment for an administrative services manager. The Oak Harbor Public Safety Training Center buildout is underway with an anticipated opening to host courses and training possibly in April.

Future agenda items identified include the ICOM/citizen academy presentation, planning for National Night Out participation, and filling vacant CAB seats. The CAB set its next meeting for May 6 at 4:15 and adjourned after a motion and second.

Motions recorded at the meeting included approval of the agenda, approval of the Feb. 4 minutes, and adjournment; the transcript records motions and seconds and indicates members signaled assent but does not provide a formal roll-call tally in the record.