Madison- Police Chief Paul Jackubson is hoping to have two more police officers on the streets and on patrol, but perhaps not until the end of August or the beginning of September.
Jakubson said he expects to receive a list of applicants this week from the South Central Criminal Justice Administration. The SCCJA serves as a central collection and testing service for candidates interested in becoming police officers and for the area police departments seeking to recruit.
“South Central has completed its testing of the candidates. That includes agility testing, written testing, and an oral interview,” Jakubson said. South Central then provides the candidate list to departments with openings. Jakubson hopes to hire two new patrol officers.
“It's my understanding that the SCCJA list has just under 100 names, however, there are five or more departments interested in hiring right now. It's going to be very competitive,” the chief said.
When he receives the candidate list, Jakubson said he would press the Police Commission to schedule time as soon as possible to interview the top 20 to 25.
“These candidates are often interviewing with more than one department. If we extend a conditional offer to someone, there is no guarantee it will be accepted. In addition, the condition offer is just that, conditional, until our department can do all the necessary background checks,” the chief explained.
If all goes well, the department will send two new recruits to the Police Academy, which is expected to begin a new class in January.
“If I can get two candidates into that class, the academy lasts for 22 weeks. After that this department has a 12-week field training program during which the recruits are partnered with a veteran officer. If all goes well, we could have two additional patrol officers on the street by the end of August,” Jakubson said.
The department presently has 22 certified officers including Jakubson.
“I have approval to hire two more, which will bring our department strength to 24,” he said.
The chief added, “Because we will begin the interview process with candidates on the South Central list does not mean that I am not interested in hiring officers who are already certified. That option remains open and I remain interested.”
At the same time, the Board of Police Commissioners continues to press its requests to the boards of selectmen and finance for the addition of more officers to the department. The commission has schedule the third in its series of public hearings to discuss this issue tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at the Police Department at the Town Campus.
In a letter to members of those two boards and members of the former Task Force Study Committee for Public Safety, Commissioner Michael Heaney said the commission plans to discuss the Crockett Report, a consultant study completed in 1997, and the task force report aired last year.