Following the recent retirement of two veteran police officers, Allegheny Township is hiring three younger, full-time officers and spending less money at the same time.
Officials Monday night unveiled a plan to expand the staff of full-time officers from 10 to 11 but with law enforcement budget savings of $11,650, thanks to lower compensation for the new officers.
The retired officers Anita King and Michael Veselicky were making the high end of wages at $37.44 per hour. The new officers will be at the low end with $26.20 per hour. Also, the need for part-time officers will be reduced, and some of the budget allotted for part-timers’ pay also will be conveyed to the extra full-timer’s pay.
“Instead of having to cover seven or eight shifts a week with part-timers, I only need to cover two or three shifts,” Police Chief Duane Fisher said.
Plus, the $11,650 still saved will be used for overtime pay.
Tyler Kurtz already has been hired a full-time officer. A second officer will start on March 1 and the third new officer on April 1.
Officials will start interviewing candidates and hope to make at least one hire on Feb. 14.
Fisher also reported that the department logged 7,375 calls in 2021.