| The
Woodinville City Council reached a unanimous
decision at the March 20 City Council meeting
to hire a full-time officer at an annual cost
of $132,000 to cover the noon to 8 p.m. weekday
shift, a time slot Police Chief Kent Baxter
considers the department’s busiest. Since
it takes eight months for a new hire to go
through the police academy, council approved
funds for an overtime deputy to fill the position
until November when the new hire shows up.
In addition, the council agreed to establish
an on-going $50,000 discretionary fund to
increase the department’s ability to
reduce crime during the evening hours. It
will allow the police chief to bring in – as
needed – the number and types of specially
trained officers to address specific crimes.
The council further agreed to establish
an $8,000 officer-overtime fund to double
the city’s School Resource Officer
(SRO) participation at Woodinville High School.
A Staff Report prepared by Chief Baxter dated
March 20 states that the SRO program is a
commitment to adequate policing in the schools.
It signals that if the school district chooses
to invest more, the city may also be willing
invest more.
|
2006
EdPrint, Inc..
All rights reserved.