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Chief says police department is understaffed as council discusses pay and recruitment
Summary
Batesburg-Leesville police remain short-staffed, the chief told council: "we're 5 short," and council members discussed pay bands, retention and overtime pressures while maintaining a fast response time average.
The Batesburg-Leesville police department reported persistent staffing gaps during the council meeting, with the department chief saying the force is currently about five officers short.
"We're 5 short," the chief said when asked about staffing, and described several officers in training and others on temporary military leave. He said the department is maintaining a 2.5-to-2.75-minute average response time from dispatch to arrival but that long schedules and overtime place strain on staff.
Councilmembers pressed on pay scales and recruitment. The chief and council discussed implementing pay bands or step scales to allow hiring at appropriate rates without unduly compressing wages for existing officers. The chief noted competing agencies pay more, making retention and recruitment difficult.
Council agreed to include compensation and related staffing items on the upcoming utilities/work-session agenda and thanked officers for their service.
