Chief proposes animal control officer be certified police post

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

— A proposal to move Gentry’s animal control and code enforcement officer position from a civilian post to a law-enforcement officer post was proposed by Gentry Police Chief Keith Smith for consideration by council members at the Police/Safety/Personnel Committee meeting on Jan. 17.

Smith told committee members changing the ACO/CE post to a law-enforcement position would make it possible for ACO/ CE officer Todd Woodall to have the power of arrest and not make it necessary for him to have uniformed police officers accompanyhim on calls in which residents are refusing to cooperate with him or accept citations. The change would also make it possible for him to enforce other laws when he observes violations during his ACO/CE duties.

Though not wishing to take him away from his current duties, the position change could possibly make him more effective in carrying out those duties, Smith stated. He said those duties were carried out by uniformed officers in the past.

Also of concern is the fact that he may be perceived as a law enforcement officer while carrying out enforcement duties when he is not and does not carry a weaponor make arrests. The situation could possibly put him in danger on some of his calls.

The cost to the city would be minimal in salary increase, but the city would have to send him to full-time police academy and pay him during that time, as well as have someone else cover his duties during the three months while he is at academy.

Council members said they did not want a change in status to take Woodall away from his current duties because he already had more to do than he could get done. They commended him for all he has accomplished since starting in the position.

In a related matter, Smith also mentioned the possibility of moving his part-time II officer up to a part-time I position in the future. The change would allow his part-time officer to work more than 20 hours per week to help cover patrol shifts for the department but would require the officer to attend full-time academy.

Smith said timing the academy in the spring and using the officer a few less hours for the remainder of the year could help offset the cost of paying him fulltime while at the academy.

The city is required to pay the officer’s regular hourly wage while at the academy, but the academy training itself is provided by the state.

News, Pages 6 on 01/25/2012