The Jackson City Council's Public Safety and Parks Committee is meeting right now. The meeting is live-streamed here. Let's see what Dr. Chief has to say. The post will be updated below.
* JPD prepares to train a new class of recruits in October. 5 recruits cleared paperwork. 6 just passed the physical fitness assessment. 7 are taking the test. Chief says looking to host at least 33. 9 just graduated.
* Looking at implementing a health and wellness initiative.
* JPD obtained a grant to pay for two drones.
* Parkinson asks what is a minimum level entry position at JPD. Chief says majority of such jobs require GED or equivalent. 21 years old is minimum age but waivers can be issued.
* Chief is looking to "civilianize" positions to free up police officers.
* JPD has 208 sworn officers. How many patrol officers? Foote asked how many were patrol officers. Chief said "130 are in patrol." When Foote started asking about shifts, Chief wanted to go in executive session.
Foote said "what worries me is we are falling short on police presences in our neighborhoods." Foote said there are 11 officers (on average) per shift in each precinct. "We can not be satisfied with 130 patrol officers" said Foote.
* 3 officers resigned while under resignation.
* Looking at having a Sergeant's test. Last one was in 2021.
* "Although we are desperate to hire, we will not. hire desperately." Doing so is what got JPD in trouble, said the Chief.
* We are doing "$1.4 million in overtime."
* On rehires: "We were just taking back anybody."
* Suggested holding training academies at night or two or three nights a week so it's easier for people to become police officers. Councilwoman said that was tried before and they problem was "they had no kind of discipline." Chief said that was indicative of bad officers.
* Foote said he "resented the notion that police officers (recruits) need to be babysat."

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