Fayette Police Department City Marshal Timothy “Bo” Wells has submitted a proposal to the city council asking the city council for additional officers, new patrol vehicles, and a facility needs assessment.

Wells told the council at its regular meeting held Tuesday, October 27, that officers are not patrolling from 3 to 7 a.m. “because we don’t have the people.” However, an officer is on call during those hours, he said.

Southwest Ward Alderman J. B. Waggoner suggested rotating schedules so it is not known publicly what hours officers are not patrolling. Wells said he would look into it.

The proposal came a month after the previous council meeting that became somewhat heated between council members, Marshal Wells, and one of his officers regarding the number of officers on staff. Maturity won the day at the October 27 meeting, with aldermen delineating their appreciation to Marshal Wells for submitting the written proposal.

“It’s been implied…that we don’t want our police department to succeed,” said David Frees, East Ward Alderman. “That is not the case.”

In his proposal, Wells presented options regarding staffing, fleet, and facility improvements. The department currently has four authorized sworn officers, including the elected city marshal, with two positions unfilled, and a $317,000 annual salary budget. Wells is requesting authorization for a range of eight to 10 total officers. Adding two officers to reach eight would require approximately $102,000 in additional annual salary funding, bringing the salary budget to $419,000. Reaching 10 officers would require approximately $204,000 more annually, for a total of $521,000. This include a 22% allowance for benefits and related employment costs.

The department recently lost another officer and Wells says he is actively recruiting to fill the position. The ability to hire new officers has been an issue with some council members, who wondered the purpose of authorizing more positions if the department can’t fill them.

The proposal recommends adding two officers immediately and reviewing the situation after six months to determine whether another two positions are needed. New officers would start at $20 per hour and receive a $1-per-hour increase after completing training and probation, according to the proposal acquired by this newspaper.

“Service demands include 24-hour coverage, investigations, school and campus activity, traffic enforcement, court obligations, training, community policing, community events, and administrative work,” the proposal states. “A six-person structure provides limited operational redundancy. Officers may be unavailable for patrol due to vacation and sick leave, holidays and scheduled days off, training and certification, court appearances and prisoner transportation, investigations and report writing, community-policing assignments, scheduled community events, injury or emergencies, and school, university, or special events. A phased hiring plan should connect each additional position to documented operational needs and available funding.”

Officers currently work 12-hour shifts, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the proposal. However, Wells told the council that no officers are patrolling from 3 to 7 a.m. Wells is on duty from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. four days a week.

The department currently operates four vehicles, three of which are not patrol-rated. Wells is asking the city to plan for six equipped Ford Police Interceptor SUVs at a preliminary estimate of approximately $100,000 total. He outlined options for acquiring the vehicles, including trading in current vehicles and selling some through public auction. He requested that the replacement process begin immediately and be completed within one year.

Wells is also asking the city to complete a needs assessment to evaluate whether renovation, expansion, or relocation would best provide safer work areas, private interview space, secure records and evidence storage, and a more accessible public entrance.

Currently the department operates from the second floor of City Hall. However, the council has expressed a desire to move the department to the Keller Building. A committee was initially planned to explore the move, but has been postponed as Marshal Wells continues to recuperate from a broken leg. He is still on light duty until the end of the year with a temporary office in the Keller Building, and it is expected he will serve on the committee.