Council approves new police support-services job description after adding one-year certification requirement

The Lander City Council adopted a job-description update that replaces the previous police records-clerk position with a police department support-services coordinator role and includes an amendment setting a one-year deadline to obtain required certifications.

Council members debated the level of specificity in the new description and whether language granting "independent judgment" about records release and systems access was appropriate. Council member Cox expressed concern that the description read "for a person, not a job," urging oversight language that ties decision-making to policy rather than unchecked discretion. Chief Wong and staff said the technical and compliance responsibilities (CJIS, NIBRS, records-redaction) require a highly trained post and that policy and statute guide release decisions.

Council amended the draft to specify that required certifications must be "obtained within one year and maintained as required." The amendment passed; the overall job description/resolution then passed on a council vote with one 'no' recorded.

Why it matters: The change formalizes a more technical role with responsibility for law-enforcement records, system compliance and technology administration. Council members sought to balance specificity (to preserve system compliance) with safeguards and a clear path for expected certifications and oversight.

Next steps: Human resources and the police department will publish the revised job description and include the one-year certification requirement in recruitment and onboarding materials.