Town will reduce seasonal hires to gain extra full-time officer
Dewey Beach commissioners voted unanimously March 12 to reduce the number of seasonal police officers hired from 20 to 15 in order to fund a 10th full-time officer. FILE PHOTO
Ellen Driscoll April 9, 2021
Dewey Beach commissioners voted unanimously March 12 to reduce the number of seasonal police officers hired in order to fund a 10th full-time officer.
Town Manager Bill Zolper said the organizational analysis conducted by retired Delaware State Police Capt. Gregory Warren for the town stressed the need for additional full-time officers, in part to reduce liability.
An additional officer will benefit the department and citizens, Zolper said. Typically, it takes about one year for an officer to complete all training at a cost of about $100,000, he said. To fund the additional officer, Zolper suggested reducing the number of seasonal hires from 20 to 15 and moving one part-time officer to full time.