Brockport approves hiring of part time police officers

With the loss of two full time Brockport police department officers due to illness and disability, the village is looking to fill some of the hours and cut down on overtime costs with the approval of the hiring of at least two more part time officers. The department presently has 10 full time and one part time officer on staff.

"I have three viable candidates and I'd like the approval of the board before I begin the hiring process," Police Chief Dan Varrenti said at the October 4 village board meeting.

He put the question before the board as to how many individuals they would like him to look at hiring. "I don't want to incur costs if they board doesn't approve," Varrenti said. Costs involved in the hiring of the part timers include background, physical and psychological checks. 'The officers we're looking at have already been through the academy."

Trustee James Whipple said, "For many years we've carried three part time officers and I think that's a good place to start."

Mort Wexler, trustee, pointed out that the Stetson Club contract calls for up to six or eight part timers. "In light of having two officers on light duty, I'd say we should hire as many part time officers as possible," he said. "Why not hire all three and have four on board?"

Varrenti pointed out that it costs approximately $18,000 to bring a part time officer on board including testing, background and training hours spent with that officer. "The training hours are mandated," he said. "They require 640 hours of full time officer training."

Wexler made a motion to hire all three candidates - a motion that Varrenti said would be a burden to the department to have to bring on and train three part time officers at this time.

Varrenti and the hiring committee planned to commence the hiring procedure by week's end and would look at bringing two of the three candidates on board.

In other matters the board:

•Heard from Assistant Fire Chief Tim Rombaut that the department had responded to 765 fire and 1,316 ambulance calls year to date. Rombaut also said the department would be participating in a mass casualty drill on October 13 in conjunction with Monroe County. Lakeside Hospital will also be involved in the drill.