Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Police Department continues to run shorthanded, with two new officers attending the Police Academy in Salem and three off with injuries.
The department has 14 sworn police officers, including its two sergeants and police chief. One detective is working full time on patrol since a police officer position was cut last fall and three officers were hired by Lebanon in December. The department’s second detective is working part-time on patrol.
One officer has been on injured status for three weeks and is expected to be off for another three weeks, said Police Chief Bob Burford. Another is injured and out for an indeterminate period. A third was back to work over the weekend. Among the injured, Sgt. Jason Van Eck is working light duty.
“It’s not typical, but police officers, by their nature, are typically very active when off duty also,” Burford said. They’re involved in sports, coaching and other activities. All three were injured off duty, he said.
The department has eight police officers working patrols, Burford said. That includes the second sergeant. In 2008, the department had 17 sworn police officers. Since then, the department has not filled a police officer position after the resignation of a sergeant. It cut the school resource officer, and in November, the department cut one patrol position.
“The bottom line is our goal is always to have two officers on duty, three at the heaviest times,” Burford said. The department’s goal is to get back to that, using patrol officers. The two officers at the Police Academy should be on the road solo by September. A third new officer has already attended the Police Academy and is working solo.
The schedule still ensures that enough officers are on patrol each shift, Burford said.
“We have officers, and we’re still patrolling the streets. We’ll be there when you call.”