Colcord seeking to reopen police department
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
COLCORD, Okla. ó The town of Colcord has needed a police chief to serve its nearly 900 residents since the police department closed in June, and it has been accepting applications for the position for the past two or three months.
So far, most applications are for reserve officers and other uncertified officers.
One applicant is a certified police officer, but the town needs five or six applicants before interviewing will start, Colcord Mayor Pat Upton said.
ì Itís always good to have your local police chief, î he said. ì If we have someone, it would provide faster response time. î
Town leaders are looking for a certified police officer to serve the community.
An Oklahoma certified officer is one who has been licensed by the state Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training or CLEET.
The salary for the position is expected to be the same or better than the former police chiefís, depending on the applicantsí experience, Upton said.
Mary Fletcher, town clerk and treasurer, said the former police chiefís salary was $ 1, 800 monthly or $ 21, 600 annually.
Once a chief is hired, the town might apply for a grant to hire another officer, Fletcher said.
ì We have to have a police force, î she said.
Delaware County Sheriffís Office has been policing the town while itís been without a chief or police department.
The sheriffís office has been serving the town well during this time, Upton said.
If the town does not receive a qualified applicant for police chief, then it could work out a contract with the sheriffís office to continue policing the town, she said.
Tracy Luper, the former police chief, resigned April 30, 2007, for personal reasons, Upton said.
The police department was forced to close June 12 when Capt. John Williamson was terminated because he did not complete his police officer training.
The town is located west of Gentry on Oklahoma Highway 116.
Applications may be submitted to the town of Colcord at P. O. Box 133, Colcord, Okla., 74338.
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