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Capitola Police Reach Full Staffing after Years of Struggle
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Capitola Police Reach Full Staffing after Years of Struggle
By Michael Thomas
W hen Capitola begins hosting summer crowds later this year, the city’s Police Department will have the largest number of officers in years to handle the increased calls for service that come in those busy months.
A new officer hired late last year brings the number of sworn officers to 22. The total includes two captains, four sergeants, 13 officers, two detectives and Police Chief Rick Ehle. The latest hiring provides some relief for a department that has struggled to recruit and retain officers for several years running.
“In 2001 when I took the position here I was down two positions so I had 18 sworn and was authorized for 20,” Chief Ehle explained. “Since that time the Council has allowed me two more sworn positions.”
However, that number was down from historic staffing levels, despite an increase in crime rates and calls. Throughout most of the ‘90s Capitola police had been paid among the highest in the County, while the department was 25 sworn officers strong.
In 1998, voters elected a new council majority that cut police spending to increase other city departments like finance, administration and reserves, the recent increases have come gradually over the past two budget years, after officers protested poor pay and unsafe working conditions.
In 2005-06, a captain position was reinstated and the Council authorized a new officer. Then in the current budget year, another officer position was added to the budget.
According to Ehle, the latest hire was exactly what the department was looking for: a trained officer who lived locally and had already graduated the academy. In the past, the lack of trained applicants has forced the city to hire new recruits and pay for training that generally takes at least a year.
Newest Officer a UCSC Graduate
The new hire, Sam Olive, attended UCSC and then put himself through the Police Academy.
“That’s a big plus for us because we didn’t have to send him through a six-month academy,” Ehle said.
Olive still has 10 to 12 weeks of field training to complete before he can be deployed without supervision.
Although the department has reached full staffing, Ehle remains concerned that openings don’t attract enough applicants. He said the department generally receives about 50 applications for an open spot on the force, whereas area fire departments see hundreds of applicants.
“It’s a topic of concern at the state and federal level,” he said. “We are not as touchy-feely or as popular as firemen.”
Recently elected Council member Ron Graves said the expanded roster will better serve the community.
“Nobody likes to get a ticket, but I think they appreciate good police service when they need it,” he added.
Understaffing Helped City Save $1 Million
Complete staffing does increase the department’s draw on the city budget. During the six months or so that the new position was budgeted but vacant, the city was saving money and those funds played into a surplus of over $1 million identified in the city budget last fall.
Ehle estimates that the department saved up to $100,000 during the first six months of the budget year, due to the vacancy and the State’s decision to continue reimbursing local law enforcement agencies for the cost of booking offenders into the County jail.
However, at the same time, an additional $52,000 was authorized from the city’s General Fund to pay for two new police motorcycles.
Graves pointed out that leaving positions unfilled often results in the remaining officers racking up lots of overtime pay.
“It burns people out,” Graves said. “I’ve talked to a number of officers who would like to go back to their regular shifts. ... I think budget wise, [adding the new officer] will work itself out.”
Ehle is optimistic about the direction the department is headed.
“Having a contract, good morale, [and] an opportunity to upgrade our equipment. … I would say things have turned the past couple years very much for the better.”
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