The Police Commission has something like 120 days to find a new Police Chief to replace the retiring Bill Reid. Mayor Mel Norton is a member of the Police Commission and, as such, will have a say in who’s chosen.
The Mayor says he will be looking for someone who can run the police department with an eye to controlling costs which means fewer number of police officers than in days gone by when the population of the city was greater and the crime rate higher.
Chief Reid will be reporting to the Police Commission next month on what’s going to be done to make do with a budget this year 320 thousand dollars less than was submitted.
The overtime costs for 2014 are projected to be 440 thousand dollars. That’s 50 thousand dollars over budget. Court time for police officers is over budget by 152 thousand dollars.
