By James Rada Jr.
News Editor
THURMONT, Md. – While the Thurmont Police are maintaining
their presence on the town’s streets, their officers are
effectively down to two-thirds of what they should be with no
relief in sight until next year.
“The
vacancies and openings have taxed the current staff, but Chief
(Greg) Eyler believes the temporary short staffing issue can
be solved,” said Police Commissioner Chairman Tom
Iaccarino.
Until
recently, the police force had one officer out on medical
leave, two on light duty and two vacancies. One of the officers
on light duty has come back to regular duty, which leaves
the eight officers to cover duties budgeted for 12 officers.
“We’ve
increased the overtime to cover the shifts and we’re
juggling shifts to cover things,” Eyler said.
He also
said Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins has offered to
help fill in any holes in the scheduling with sheriff’s
deputies, but the situation hasn’t become that bad for
the Thurmont Police yet.
“I
am hoping that we can get fully staffed next year,”
Eyler said.
During
a recent submission period for potential applicants for the
police officer openings, Thurmont Police received 18 applications.
Only seven showed up for the actual testing, of which, one
person started in the current police academy run by the Frederick
Police.
However,
the academy lasts six months so it will be mid-April 2008
before the newest officer will be seen patrolling Thurmont.
Eyler
said the problem he is seeing with applicants is that they
aren’t passing the background checks.
“They
fail the polygraph or they have drug usage they forget to
tell us about,” Eyler said.
Eyler
said the police force is seeking people with integrity, who
are dependable, who want to be police officers and who know
how to deal with the public.
Iaccarino
said the Police Commission is also doing its part to help
attract and retain police officers for the town. Last year,
the commission recommending the town commissioners approved
a new salary structure for the officers and a new police station
next to the Thurmont Senior Center.
“When
you improve the salaries and give good working conditions,
you’re going to improve your recruitment and retention,”
Iaccarino said.
Eyler
said the commission has had in impact on the police force.
“Normally
we wouldn’t get 18 applications for positions,”
he said.
