Columbus Police Department is hopeful a surge in new applications will lead to an injection of new manpower.
CPD currently has about 45 officers following a string of departures in recent weeks. The city budgets for the department to have 77 officers.
Assistant Police Chief Fred Shelton told the CPD Citizen Overview Committee at a Thursday morning meeting in the Municipal Complex the department is reviewing 10 to 15 officer applications it has received in the past two weeks. After the review, applicants will have to pass a physical fitness test, interview, background check and other vetting steps.
Though CPD still has a ways to go to reach full manpower, oversight board vice chairman Lee Roy Lollar said even getting a few of the applicants would be a step in the right direction.
“If we can get five of those 10, that would be a starting point,” Lollar said. “Then maybe some more will come in.”
Most of the applicants, Shelton said, range in age from 21 to 30. He said a few of the applicants are officers who would transfer to CPD from other departments, if hired.
Shelton said the application process usually takes a month or two, but CPD is working to streamline it. Once new officers are hired, CPD has a year to send them to the police academy. Shelton said CPD has one officer currently in training at the academy.
Due to the department’s manpower need, Shelton said it will likely try to expedite getting new officers to the academy.
As the meeting progressed, Lollar asked if officer pay has been a factor in CPD losing officers and struggling to hire new ones.
“It’s one of many things, but not the main thing,” Shelton said.
Mayor Robert Smith said conversations with officers who have left the department have indicated six areas where CPD can improve — recruitment, retention, morale, promotions, efficiency, fairness and consistency.
“If you talk to some of the people who’ve transferred or moved on, it’s more than just salary,” Smith said.
CPD’s starting salary is $31,915 per year. That increases to $34,986 after an officer has completed training at the academy, and $35,700 after an officer is through the one-year probationary period after hire. CPD’s pay is comparable to other area local law enforcement agencies.
Still, Lollar suggested that it might help to increase officer pay.
“We want the best,” he said. “Sometimes the best costs a little more.”
Officer honored
The board honored officer Roman Sones during Thursday’s meeting.
Sones recently assisted a stranded bus, Lollar said, during the middle of the night.
“As we all know, there’s a rash of distracted drivers and now more than ever, our police have to watch for the safety of those on the side of the roadway,” Lollar said.
Sones received a gift card to Harvey’s as part of his recognition.
Sones said he saw the bus stopped on Alabama Street.
“I didn’t know if there was an accident or what, so I got up and talked to the driver,” Sones said. “He said it was broken down and wouldn’t start back up. …
“I offered to help him push it down the road,” Sones added. “We pushed it a good bit down the road to a gas station. I got my workout in the for the day.”
Sones has been an officer with CPD for two years.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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