Police committee recommends sending an officer to Metro East Auto Theft Task Force

The Waterloo Police Committee voted to forward a recommendation to the full city council to allow a Waterloo officer to join the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force under a funding arrangement in which the task force would pay the officer's salary, provide a vehicle and equipment and cover overtime costs.

The Chair (speaker 2) introduced the item and said Dane brought the opportunity to the committee for consideration. An Agency official (speaker 1) told the committee, “They'll cover all of it,” referring to the task force covering salary and monthly expenses, while adding that the only expense the task force asked the city to absorb was placing the task‑force vehicle on the city's fleet insurance. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the officer would remain available for emergency coverage in Waterloo; the Agency official said the slot is for the position rather than strictly for a single person and that the task force can provide extra manpower when local needs arise.

Committee members pressed operational and budget impacts. The Agency official said the department could send an officer but that doing so would likely move Waterloo to minimum staffing levels and produce overtime when officers take vacation. Committee members noted the department has had recent retirements and an officer on workers' compensation and said backfilling would take time; the Agency official estimated a new hire selected now could be trained and up to speed by the end of the year. The committee clarified that 'fully staffed' is 20 officers and that approving participation in the task force would not, by itself, increase the roster to 21 — any additional authorized position would require a separate approval.

A committee member (speaker 4) moved to approve participation in the task force and a fellow member (speaker 7) seconded. After brief additional questions, the committee voted in favor and the Chair said the committee would forward a recommendation to the full council. The committee adjourned shortly after the vote.

The decision now goes to the full city council for final approval; the committee did not set a firm start date but the Agency official suggested the assignment could begin around the end of September or October 1 if the task force agrees.