SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) - City Council members in Schuyler are divided over whether a residency requirement should be removed for police department supervisors.
Police Chief K.C. Bang is looking to hire a police sergeant and wants the requirement waived, in part because most of his officers live outside the small city. But some City Council members said police supervisors should live in the communities they serve, the Columbus Telegram (https://bit.ly/2kNp8N5 ) reported.
Bang and one officer currently reside in Schuyler, while the rest live about 15 to 20 minutes away in other communities.
“We have quality people internally and I’d hate to say we’re not going to utilize any of these people,” Bang told council members during a recent meeting. “I hate to think that because somebody can’t sell their house and move to Schuyler, it’s going to keep them from applying for sergeant.”
Mayor Dave Reinecke noted that residents aren’t especially keen on public servants living elsewhere. He cited the backlash after former Police Chief Lenny Hiltner didn’t move to Schuyler after being appointed chief. Still, the mayor has recommended waiving the residency requirement for the position.
Council members Jon Knutson and David Johnson were the most vocal opponents of the waiver during a council meeting on Jan. 17. Knutson said that since then, he’s changed his mind about the requirement.
“I get a little bristly when I hear people don’t want to move to Schuyler,” Knutson said. “I want people to come here and see it as a place of opportunity. But I see that people have roots in other places and this is America.”
The council decided to advertise the sergeant position for 30 days before making a final decision on the residency requirement at its March 7 meeting.
___
Information from: Columbus Telegram, https://www.columbustelegram.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.