December 4, 2023 |
Photo – Police Communications Desk – Courtesy Center for American Progress
A lack of available dispatchers forces the Saratoga Police Department to contract with the Sheriff’s Office instead of offering raises.
During the November 7th Saratoga town council meeting, Police Chief Mike Morris said his department would no longer be able to provide dispatching services unless he found several new employees. To make up for the shortfall in his roster, Chief Morris proposed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. The MOU will allow Sheriff’s Office dispatchers to come to Saratoga to man the town’s call center. In exchange, the town will pay the salary, including overtime, of the sheriff’s dispatchers. Chief Morris said the agreement was likely to cost his department upwards of $60,000.
At the November 21st Saratoga town council meeting, Chief Morris said the cost of hosting the Sheriff’s dispatchers has left him unable to pay for raises for two of his department’s employees.
Chief Morris said his current dispatchers understand that, on top of the MOU, the department will also have to pay to train any newly hired call-takers. The police chief said he simply doesn’t have the money to cover a pay increase for his current dispatchers.
Chief Morris said Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip approved the Saratoga Police Department’s MOU with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. The chief said the agreement went into effect on November 2oth.
Chief Morris said he’s gotten some interest in his department’s open dispatcher positions. The police chief said a former military member with some dispatching experience has expressed a desire to join the Saratoga Police Department’s dispatch team.
Chief Morris said Encampment resident Joshua Mathieu has completed all the required pre-employment testing, except for a physical. The chief asked the council to allow him to hire Mathieu at $19 an hour, assuming he passes his medical evaluation.
Chief Morris said he also has two former employees who have offered to return to the police department to dispatch part-time. However, Chief Morris said they are unable to complete their required psychological evaluations until early next year. The chief said he thinks he can get around the state requirement by hiring the two people under a different title.
Chief Morris said call-takers do not have the same responsibilities or authorities as certified police dispatchers. Until the two people receive their mental health evaluations, Chief Morris said they will have to send all criminal calls to the sheriff.
Chief Morris said the two call-takers, Tiffany Moore and Tana Davi, have a lot of dispatching experience. The police chief said they will only hold the call-taker title until they finish their pre-employment screenings.
Chief Morris said both women will be hired at $17 an hour.
The Saratoga town council voted to hire Joshua Mathieu as a full-time dispatcher and Tiffany Moore and Tana Davi as temporary call-takers with the intention to move them to part-time dispatchers at a later date.
