The Perry Police Department is now down to just nine police officers.
Chief Eric Vaughn tells Raccoon Valley Radio that an officer was let go from the department on January 31st due to a personnel matter.
That leaves the department down three officers from their full strength of twelve. Officer Rod Pavelka left Perry for the Guthrie Center Police Department back in November and former Chief Dan Brickner was finished the end of last month.
Vaughn says right now the department has the “okay” to hire two more officers and that process is proceeding well. He says they have some additional testing scheduled for several candidates next week, with hopes that he’ll be able to hire one or two officers by the end of the month or beginning of March.
In the meantime, Vaughn says the full time officers are picking up some additional shifts, along with help from part time officers. The Chief is still working weekends at this time to help get the department through the shortage and says his officers have really stepped up to help out during this tough time.
Vaughn plans to request permission to hire a third officer at the next city council meeting, a step that is necessary because of the city’s current hiring freeze.
Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.