By A.K. Dugan, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Tuesday, January 2, 2007 12:00 am
The Lebanon Police Department is facing the inevitable, the retirement of three from a stable core of longtime officers and the loss of almost 90 years of experience.
“That is basically not replaceable," said Chief Mike Healy. “We will have a younger, more inexperienced staff to replace them. This causes an additional load on the supervisors and managers because the less experienced folks will need more help and guidance. The senior officers will also have to really step up because they are the 'old dogs' now."
By the first of the year, about half of the patrol force could be new officers, Healy said.
Fortunately, none of the three retirees cut their ties with the department on the date they formally retired, which pleased Healy.
“All three of them were really good at sharing guidance and experience, were really good models for younger officers," he said.
Officially, Officer Dave Chaput was the first to go. But since he retired a year ago he's been “working back" a couple of days a week, transporting prisoners between the Linn County Jail and the municipal court, and filling in where needed.
Sgt. Tim Fitzwater officially retired in October 2005, but continued filling his position as sergeant of detectives until April.
Sgt. John Atchley's retirement was official on July 31, though he continued to work full time through the end of the year. At that time he took over Chaput's part-time position and Chaput said goodbye for good.
To replace the two sergeants, Ben Silverman has been promoted and Mike Fiala was promoted as of January 1.
Three other sergeants - Doug Wright, Kevin Martinez and Greg Burroughs - remain with a total of nearly 60 years with LPD.
Dispatcher Liz Leopold retired at the end of July, too, but will continue to work for a while.
“Working back" is continuing to work at the same or similar job after retirement.
Generally, each year after they formally retire and begin to collect retirement benefits, public employees in Oregon may work up to six months at full time or half time for a full year. Because Lebanon is a city of of under 15,000, police and emergency services employees are allowed to work full time after formal retirement. According to an agreement worked out with the police union a few years ago, retired employees who are working back get the same health benefits of non-retired employees, but they don't receive sick or vacation time.
“It's a great deal for the city and for the citizens," Healy said. “We get to hang on to that experience at a lower cost to the taxpayer."
Earlier in the year, the department hired three new officers - Ryan Padua, Alan Baker and Jeremy Weber - and recently hired two more.
New officers rarely hit the ground running, Healy said. They're required to attend the police academy and spend up to 12 weeks on patrol with an experienced officer.
“Anytime we hire a recruit officer it is usually about nine months before they can go out on their own," he said.
Because one of the newest officers is a 15-year veteran of the Benton County Sheriff's office and the other has already been through the academy, they will be on the street before many new officers would be.
Healy estimates that new officers cost $50,000 to $60,000 before they are fully trained. That includes sending them to the academy and the time for training officers to work with them. At LPD, trainers are patrol officers, not sergeants. Recruits spend a few weeks with each trainer.
“It is a big load to have a recruit with you," he said. “It's a complex job. You have to explain everything to them, let them stumble a little and coach them."
Healy hopes the new officers will stay in Lebanon, although today's workers are much less 'one department' career-minded than in the past.
“Lebanon is the size that offers many benefits and assignments that smaller departments don't have but the larger agencies can still attract some of our folks away," he said. “I'm very optimistic about the staff we have. The equipment we now have for the officers is probably comparable to any other department in the state and probably better than a lot. I believe the new facility approved by the voters in November will make a huge difference in portraying a positive and professional image to the citizens and prospective employees."