Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
Hurricane approves hiring of new officer
HURRICANE, W.Va. -- The Hurricane City Council gave the police department the green light Monday to hire a new officer and purchase a new cruiser.
Chief Mike Mullins explained at Monday's regular City Council meeting that the city employs 14 officers, counting the chief, but their resources are strained due to increased calls related to subdivision construction throughout town and expanding business developments off the Hurricane exit.
Mullins said that for the month of July, the department received 649 calls for service. In contrast, July 2007 saw only 480 calls -- a 35 percent increase over the past year.
Mullins said one of his officers has been splitting the responsibilities of shift work with detective duties in efforts to bring more prosecution and closure to cases of crime in city limits. He said the new officer position will allow detective duties to be assigned on a full-time basis. Mullins said that most of the city's arrests are specifically a result of the detective work being performed by the assigned officer.
The cost of the new officer's position will amount to roughly $38,000 annually, which includes salary and benefits. A fully equipped Dodge Charger cruiser will cost just more than $30,000. City staff assured the council that money was available in the budget to cover the costs.
Mullins says he has received resumes from a few qualified candidates who would not have to attend the police academy prior to hire, something he sees as a benefit so that the position could be filled with in-house training beginning immediately.
Also at Monday's council meeting:
- The Hurricane police force has received $7,200 in grant funds that will be used in the purchase of four computers to be mounted in police cruisers. Mullins said the state now requires electronic submission of reports.
- The city ordinance on skateboard use was reviewed with a clarification added that the use of skateboards is only allowed at the City Park's skate park located off of Great Teays Road.
- City Manager Ben Newhouse confirmed that Chili's out of Dallas, Texas, has contacted him to begin discussions of possibly opening a restaurant in the Hurricane area.
- October will see the beginning of the selection process for needy families requesting home repairs in anticipation for REACH work camp volunteers to address during their visit in the upcoming year.
- Lewis Powers was recognized for his 17 years of service as a member of the water and sanitary boards.
The next City Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, instead of the usual first Monday of the month in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
