From now on it’s going to be a little tougher — and more expensive — for new officers to leave the Columbus Police Department.
Tuesday night Columbus City Council approved an employment contract that obligates new police officers to stay with CPD for a minimum of three years. Those who leave early to go to another law enforcement agency will have to repay training and equipment costs.
The agreement applies to officers the city hires and sends to the police academy, Police Chief Joseph Daughtry said.
Daughtry told The Dispatch after the meeting that the police academy costs about $3,800 per officer, and equipment costs roughly $3,500.
That amount will be prorated to reflect the amount of time the officer stays with the department, according to the contract.
The move is an effort to increase retention, he said.
“As you know, a lot of times when we hire individuals to work in the police department they end up going to work someplace else,” Daughtry said.
Vice Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens asked Daughtry what would happen if the officer left due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a death in the family.
“Basically, this just covers if they leave and go to another law enforcement agency,” Daughtry said.
Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones asked how Daughtry intended to enforce the contract.
“Our city attorney will sue them,” Daughtry replied, drawing some laughter from the council and audience.
City Attorney Jeff Turnage said suing outgoing officers would be a last resort, and the city would attempt to negotiate first. The city could also go after the hiring agency to recover the costs.
“There is a state statute that if they leave within so many months of attending the training academy the hiring agency will reimburse us,” Turnage said. “We haven’t had much luck with that, but I would imagine a lawsuit or two would help speed collection of those along, too.”
Ward 4 Councilman Pierre Beard asked if other area agencies had a similar policy.
“I know Natchez does it,” Daughtry said. “I know a lot of coastal agencies do it because their salaries are so competitive.”
Daughtry was chief in Natchez before taking over at CPD earlier this year.
Jones moved to approve the agreement, with a second by Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart. It passed unanimously.
Turnage told The Dispatch after the meeting the agreement would go into effect with future hires and could not be retroactive to existing officers.
Former chief Fred Shelton suggested a similar policy in 2020, but it was never formally adopted by the council. His policy would have obligated officers to stay for two years.
CPD currently has 42 officers and is budgeted for 55, according to Daughtry.
Grass cutting approved
The council approved outsourcing mowing of state rights-of-way along five Highway 82 interchanges, as well as the frontage between Highway 82 and 18th Avenue North in front of the former Leigh Mall.
The contract, with S&S Landscaping, is for one calendar year and will cost $75,000.
Monday the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors agreed to pay half of the cost for one year, contingent on the city council ponying up the other half. Although the bid was for three years, the county could legally only agree to one year because this is an election year.
Mayor Keith Gaskin said the one-year term is advantageous.
“One year at this amount will give everyone a chance to assess whether we want to keep doing this or whether we want to pull it back in-house,” Gaskin said.
Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene moved to accept the bid, with a second by Beard. The motion passed unanimously.
Due to the city being most of the way through its budget year, only about $25,000 will be owed this fiscal year, meaning that the city and county will each pay $12,500. The remainder will be paid in Fiscal Year 2024.
The council previously voted to table the bid at an April 18 meeting. After extremely contentious debate, the council deadlocked over the issue twice at a May 2 meeting, first on a motion to table and the second time on a motion to reject the bids. A motion to accept the bid failed, meaning no progress was made at all.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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