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Resident says pay is driving officers away, warns of longer response times
Summary
David Garrettson told council he is resigning for higher pay at the sheriff's office and warned several officers are leaving; he said without raises the city's response times and specialized teams could be jeopardized.
During public forum at the May 4 meeting, resident and city employee David Garrettson told the council he is leaving municipal employment to work for the sheriff's office and urged elected officials to address officer pay.
"The only reason I'm leaving is strictly for money," Garrettson said. He told the council he will be the third officer to leave for the sheriff’s department in three months and warned that more departures will increase response times and reduce the city’s ability to staff specialized teams.
Garrettson said officers are leaving despite dedication to the community and urged council members to consider pay raises to retain personnel. "These guys need money. They need a raise," he said, arguing that continued departures will harm public safety and emergency response.
Response and context: Mayor Scott James thanked Garrettson for his service and acknowledged the difficulty of retention. Councilors did not take immediate action during the meeting, but Garrettson’s remarks highlight a personnel issue the council may need to address through budget or compensation discussions.
Next steps: No formal motion or vote followed Garrettson’s comment. Council members may consider the point when they review budgets and labor policy in coming meetings.
