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Council: Newly certified officers must stay for 4 years or reimburse the city
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · November 25, 2015
In hopes of keeping police officers longer, the West Branch City Council wants officers who use city money to earn police certification to agree to reimburse the city if they leave in fewer than four years.
The city council, which at its Nov. 16 meeting swore in Derek Holmes as its newest full-time officer, discussed in October that tuition for Iowa Law Enforcement academies runs about $8,000.
City Administrator Matt Muckler said the city also pays mileage and food for officers who attend, and pay them a salary on top of that.
In the agreement, each year an officer works for West Branch, 25 percent of the reimbursement is forgiven. However, if an officer leaves and fails to reimburse the city, the city can withdraw the officer’s certification.
Council member Colton Miller said he likes the idea of a reimbursement agreement that phases out after four years.
“If you offer to spend $20,000 on someone and they are not willing to commit to four years, you don’t want them anyway,” he said.
West Branch has been operating with three officers for years and last year set aside money to hire a fourth full-time officer for the first time. Swearing in Holmes put the department back to three full-time officers, so the city is still looking for another.
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