LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council Tuesday authorized an exemption from the citywide hiring freeze for the Lakeport Police Department (LPD) to allow the hiring of one police officer to replace a current officer who is retiring effective April 1.
The council action occurred during a brief, 15-minute regular meeting at Lakeport City Hall Tuesday evening.
Sgt. Kevin Odom, speaking on behalf of interim police chief Brad Rasmussen, told the council that the LPD currently has nine sworn peace officers, one of which is unavailable because of long-term leave.
The pending retirement would reduce the number of available full-time officers to seven, Odom said.
Police officer staffing levels at the LPD has declined from 13 to 11 during the past 18 months, according to Rasmussen”s staff report to the council.
The total number of officers fell to nine late in 2010 with one officer resigning in December and Rasmussen, formally a lieutenant, stepping in as interim police chief in November. The current fiscal year”s budget allows for 10 full-time peace officers, not counting the chief”s position, Rasmussen wrote in his report.
LPD has increased the workloads of current staff and used volunteers, part-time peace officers and reserve officers in order to compensate for the decrease in full-time staffing, according to Rasmussen.
The council voted unanimously to approve the hiring freeze exemption and direct staff to begin the recruitment process.
LPD Sgt. Jason Ferguson confirmed the retiring officer to be Jim Bell, who has worked for the LPD for nearly five years and had previously worked for the Clearlake Police Department.
LPD is close to hiring one entry-level officer to fill a separate position funded by a Department of Justice program grant, Rasmussen wrote in his report.
The council authorized a hiring freeze exemption for that position in December. The council also directed staff on Tuesday to schedule a SmartMeters discussion for a future council meeting agenda.
The county recently adopted an ordinance calling for a moratorium on PG&E SmartMeter installations in the unincorporated areas of the county. PG&E has continued installing the devices throughout the county, arguing that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has jurisdiction over its actions, not local governments.
The county”s ordinance does not apply to the incorporated city of Lakeport, City Attorney Steve Brookes told the council.
