Police face potential officer shortage

Sidney police hope to avoid being overworked and understaffed.

One of the department’s veterans recently resigned to pursue a career opportunity in the front range. Another officer is currently off duty due to a medical condition, while a third will soon require time off for medical reasons as well.

This could potentially cause a three officer shortage.

“So with all the activity that we have going forward, with a lot of contractors, construction workers in town, a growing community and all the challenges you’re reading about and hearing about that law enforcement’s dealing with, we’re gonna have to have a plan of action to try to help us through that period of time,” said city manager Gary Person at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

The city is in the process of hiring another officer to replace the one who resigned. After discussing the situation with police Chief B.J. Wilkinson, the city might opt to hire two new officers instead of one. The future is uncertain for the two officers dealing with medical issues.

“We want to make sure we give the chief the tools that he needs to continue the good work that they’re doing,” Person said.

Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, Wilkinson updated the council on his department’s efforts to rid the city of abandoned, unlicensed and inoperable vehicles.

Shortly after the city council approved a towing contract to remove vehicles in violation of the city’s code, police identified 30 vehicles out of line with Sidney’s ordinance to keep inoperable vehicles from becoming a blight to the city.

When possible, Wilkinson and his code enforcement officer contacted the vehicle owners informally to inform them of the violation.

“Seven of them were removed just on informal contact,” Wilkinson said.

Police then sent 23 notices of intent to tow. As of yesterday, 15 of those vehicles were voluntarily removed by the owner, four were plated and proved to be operational and four vehicles are still in violation. Three of the vehicles in violation are awaiting a court date next month in order to remove them from the property while police plan to remove one vehicle from its property this week.

Police also identified three trailers in violation, which were plated or removed after police contacted the owners.

“So a total of 26 vehicles that were formally notified have been removed without a single one having to be towed as of yet,” Wilkinson said, “which is what we expected.”

Once residents realized the police were serious about towing, many complied with city regulations voluntarily.

“And we’re just getting warmed up,” Wilkinson said.