Willow Park authorizes police salary study review and names interim police leadership after executive session

The Willow Park City Council on May 12 directed staff to revisit and validate a police-department salary study and, following executive session, appointed interim leadership for the department.

Commander Quincy Hamilton told the council the department is understaffed (down roughly 10 positions from authorized levels and two sergeants short) and that starting pay was running about $61,000 compared with mid-60s to $70,000 in neighboring jurisdictions. Hamilton said the department often hires applicants who are not yet certified and must send them to the academy, which increases turnover and training lag. Council members discussed a possible $10,000 across-the-board increase proposed by the mayor but agreed to bring validated salary ranges and staffing-level scenarios into the upcoming budget process.

Council voted to authorize Commander Hamilton (staff) to revise/validate the existing salary study so the council can consider budget amendments and specific salary proposals as part of the budget process. After a closed executive session, the council reconvened and, by motion, named Quincy Hamilton interim police chief and Sergeant Brian Goode assistant interim police chief; the council also authorized negotiations for a city-manager contract (separate personnel action).

Why it matters: Staffing and pay for the police department affect public safety, response capacity and municipal budget planning. The council's decision to validate the study and consider compensation changes during budget season sets the timetable for potential pay adjustments and staffing changes.

Council members said they intend to examine staffing projections tied to development-driven growth and to identify budget offsets and reallocation of line items where feasible.