The Jefferson Police Department is going to be shorthanded for a period of time again.

Police Chief Mark Clouse tells Raccoon Valley Radio former officer Jonathan Young recently left the department for a position with the Waukee Police Department and the City Council hired Nick Johnson to replace him. Clouse says Officer Jamie Brenner is still at the 16-week Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and Officer Bohden Bigler will leave for the 10-week academy this month. The department is currently still down one additional officer. 

Clouse points out that finding qualified applicants continues to be a struggle and he wants to see more building from the ground up.

“By that I mean people trying to get into law enforcement, I haven’t noticed an increase in that here with our particular job openings. Law enforcement is still a very, obviously important position in our society, but it’s also a very good, fulfilling career. I think that’ll come back around and we’ll start hiring from the bottom up again.”

Clouse notes one important move his department made was promoting two officers to the rank of sergeant, which gives him a supervisor that covers all patrol officer shifts.

“We have not had two sergeants in the past on our department. All of our officers are less than one year, less than two years on, so that supervisor is there directing them, training them, helping them – even a year into their job – is extremely important.”

Clouse adds if there are officer shifts that are not covered, due to being short-handed, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office will provide coverage as per their 28E agreement.