Amid Rising OT Costs, Police Seek New Hire

Acting Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour says the department has a short-term solution that will aid its depleted staff, which is "10 below our budgeted number."

Last week it was announced that the Stratford Police Department is seeking to hire a POSTC (Police Officer Standards and Training Council) certified police officer. Ridenhour said the position could be filled by a recent retiree who still has certification credentials, or by an officer looking to make a lateral transfer from another town's police department.

"It's not necessarily the best solution," said Ridenhour. "It's always best to train people from within [the department]."

But that takes time - at least a year, said the interim chief, with six months spent at the training academy. And with five officers retiring last January and three more recently switching to other town's police departments, the quicker the hire, the better, said Ridenhour, who expects even more departmental retirements in the next six to nine months. 

He said the new hire would get acclimated to the Stratford Police Department through training classes in a "modified academy." The salary attached to the patrol officer position ranges from $48,822 to $63,711.

Ridenhour said the objective of this new position is to help curb overtime costs within the department and, consequently, provide the public with a patrol that is less fatigued. However, that's not to say the public has been shortchanged by an understaffed police force, he said.

"The public sees no change in the way we do business," he said, adding that he is optimistic the position will attract new talent. "Hopefully, we'll get some gems."