For the first time since he was hired three years ago, the Columbus Police Department is at full force, Chief Joseph St. John told Rotary Club members Tuesday.
The department had 54 officers in 2007, 17 fewer than it was supposed to have, St. John said. Now the police department has 71 officers on the payroll.
“It”s taken three years, but we”re there now,” he added.
The department has hired 30 people during that time, mostly from smaller police departments, St. John told the full room.
Now, the department has a list of about 15 people ready at any given time in case someone retires, he continued.
“The bottom line is there has been massive changes in that department,” he said.
“A little ways down the road,” he continued, “you”re going to see another police department just because of the hiring process.”
Change in hiring practices is only one of many changes at the department, St. John said.
Police have purchased several T3 Series electric stand-up vehicles for the traffic controller and officers patrolling events, he said.
A bicycle unit could also be formed soon, St. John said.
Besides changes to the outward appearance of the department, officers will also crack down on parking tickets in upcoming months.
The details of a parking ticket amnesty will be hashed out over the next day or so, he said. The amnesty will also allow offenders to pay off their tickets without facing arrest or court costs.
“Just pay us what you owe us,” St. John said.
If police do not take parking violations seriously, traffic to downtown merchants could be disrupted, he said.
“Downtown is a beautiful area with a beautiful problem,” he added.
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