The Gainesboro Police Department has three to four applicants being considered to fill an open officer position.
The department currently has three active officers. Mayor Lloyd Williams said the city wants at least four, but competing with larger municipalities has made hiring a challenge.
“Most of the surrounding counties, even our own county, they pay a higher rate of pay than we do,” Williams said. “But, we do pay for insurance, and we do have state retirement. We have some benefits. We try to make up the best we can with the pay with some of our benefits.”
Williams said lower tax revenues make for difficult barriers when it comes to city funding.
“We address every year, not just the police, we address the whole staff on money issues,” Williams said. “We try to give a cost of living rate. Last two years, we have been able to. I don’t know if we will this year when we do our budget, but we look at everybody and definitely take a hard look at the police department.”
The city pays for any police training required for applicants. Williams said in the past, potential hires have taken advantage of this opportunity and do not return to Gainesboro to serve. Williams said that usually leaves the city paying a potential officer for six months without any long term employment.
“We do the best we can with it,” Williams said. “Our last employee, he has been with us for three years, and he is a fine employee.”
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