By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green Police Division is preparing for the possible loss of half its patrol officers to retirement in the next few years.
“We were all about the same age when we were hired,” Major Justin White said Tuesday evening. Four officers retired this summer, one is expected to retire later this fall, and seven more are possibly eyeing retirement next year.
The police division has been recruiting new officers, and on Tuesday the city officially promoted three officers to the rank of sergeant.
“This is an exciting evening,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said before swearing in the new command officers.
“This is a time of great transition” for the police division, Aspacher said. “Leadership is never more important” than when many new officers are coming into the ranks.
Promoted were Scott Frank, Andy Mulinix and Tyson Richmond.
“Thank you for stepping up and serving the citizens of Bowling Green,” City Council President Mark Hollenbaugh said.
The three men have been very committed to training on subjects such as crisis negotiation and de-escalation, White said.
“They’ve been very dedicated to their positions,” White said. “It’s very important to get good leaders.”
Now the officers will be fine-tuning their skills of supervising shifts.
“Learning to manage people is probably the most difficult thing,” White said.
Four experienced officers retired earlier this year, including Mark Hansen, Roger Kern, Scott Kleiber and Paul Tyson. Another officer is expected to retire later this fall.
“So there will be a lot of new leadership,” White said.
There will also be a lot of new patrol officers. Three were hired earlier this summer.
“We’re not at full staff, but we’re close,” White said.
This is not an easy time to find new police officers, he said.
“Recruitment is difficult,” White said, with police under a lot of scrutiny nationwide. “It’s an opportunity to get new people and new ideas.”
The police division has 39 officers now – two fewer than last year.
“We are actively recruiting,” White said.
In the meantime, everyone from Chief Tony Hetrick on down has been taking patrol duties.
“We only have so many officers to go around,” White said. And the demands on the police division have been heavy lately with efforts to patrol more downtown on weekends, plus several community events that require police shifts.
“Everyone’s stepping up to get the job done,” White said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, City Council voted to approve contracts with the police command officers. The three-year contract agreed to by the union and city has a 2% raise in the first year, a 2.5% raise in the second year, and a 3% raise in the third year.
