Police Chief David Birk is dealing with even more loss of veterans. So far this year, six members of the police force have retired, taking more than 128 years of experience. And that doesn’t include detective Larry Fultz, who plans to retire next month after 33 years, and Deputy Chief Scott Reeve, who’s retiring in September after 35 years.
Lolli said seven firefighters/EMTs have been hired, and if the department receives a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, six more will be hired this year.
Lolli, who has worked in Middletown for 32 years, said 24 percent of his 81-member staff have at least 25 years of experience, while 53 percent have less than 10 years on the job.
He said those in public safety with at least 25 years experience are eligible to retire. Most firefighters and police officers, once they reach 25 years, enroll in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), a program that allows them to freeze their pension into another retirement account. They must stay in the program for five years, but leave after eight years.
“You can’t replace experience,” he said.
To combat the loss of experience, Lolli said firefighters are constantly training. He said during the last few weeks he has seen instances in which a mistake was made due to inexperience.
“These are split moment decisions,” he said.
The goal, Lolli said, is to have a firefighter with 25 years of experience, not a firefighter with one year of experience 25 times.
“That’s the guy you don’t want,” he said.
The police department has three vacancies and has received 50 applicants, which is “pretty amazing” because police departments have faced a negative perception by many because of national incidents in the past few years, Birk said.
Birk said civil service tests are being taken, followed by polygraphs, physical fitness tests and psychological evaluations, which is time-consuming but necessary.
“The hiring process is so critical,” Birk said.
After police officers are hired, they have four to five months of field training, then placed on one-year probation. He said new officers are closely monitored by street supervisors.
The department also has shifted some personnel and needs to train police officers to make them candidates to fill the two open detective positions, Birk said.
MIDDLETOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS
Deputy Fire Chief David Adams, 29 years
Firefighter/paramedic Tim Kinsworthy, 28 years
NEW HIRES
Firefighter/EMT Kyle Baughman
Firefighter/EMT Kevin Bryant
Firefighter/EMT Cameron Koch
Firefighter/EMT Tyler Mullis
Firefighter/EMT Jeremy Spears
Firefighter/EMT Michael Welch
Firefighter/paramedic Ross Green to be reinstated April 5
POLICE DEPARTMENT RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS
Detective Steve Winters, 29 years
Detective Jon Rawlins, 28 years
SRO Robyn Rawlins, 25 years
Detective Tim Meehan, 22 years
Police officer David Creech, 20 years
Housing code specialist Roger Mahaffey, 12 years
NEW HIRES
Police officer Austin Renner
Police officer Kendahl Bowles
Police officer Connor Beel
SOURCE: City of Middletown
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