Upping wages could be the only way to keep police force

By Ginna Young

“If we want people to apply, we’ve got to be competitive.”

Cornell Police Chief Glenn Rehberg laid it on the line Sept. 7, at a Finance Committee meeting, addressing Cornell City Council members. He spoke about the need to increase wages for Cornell Police officers and how hard it’s been to find any candidates to replace the third full-time officer that left for another job earlier in the year.

“Right now, our chances of getting an experienced officer are zero,” said Rehberg.

Rehberg put together numbers for the council to see, with about a $5/hour pay increase for officers across the board, in order to not only attract a new patrol offi cer, but to retain the master patrol officer and police chief they already have. Rehberg admits it shouldn’t be so expensive to have a police force, but the reality is all in the numbers and Cornell is near the bottom of police wages for towns its size.

“Police officers cost what they cost,” said Rehberg. “That’s kind of a bitter pill to swallow and I respect that.”

Under Rehberg’s plan, he would eliminate the need for part-time officers, since Cornell is unable to find any candidates. When the candidates have their pick of full-time positions, Rehberg can’t tempt them come to Cornell for part-time.

What he wants to focus on, is in recruiting a lateral (meaning experienced) officer. By offering a competitive rate, Rehberg is confident he’ll have a significant chance of finding someone who wants to live in a friendly, close-knit community, with all the outdoor recreation Cornell has to offer.

By bumping up the pay (paid by using the remaining budget for the third fulltime officer who resigned) for existing officers and bringing in another full-time lateral officer, the city would still be left with $12,000.

For 2024, the salaries would be paid through a portion of the promised shared revenue from the state. By state law, the money must be used for only fire, ambulance, public works and police.

“It’s a good healthy chunk, yes,” said Rehberg.

Plan B, which no one is in favor of, would be to advertise to put someone through recruit school, but even with that, most night shifts would not be filled until at least July 2024. The way it is now, Cornell sometimes has to rely on coverage by the county, and patrol officers could be anywhere in Chippewa County, adding to response time.

“That’s not what any of us want for our people in Cornell,” said Rehberg.

If Cornell goes with Plan B, the recruit would have to be an employee, so Rehberg suggested paying 75 percent of a beginning patrol officer salary; the academy tuition would be paid for by the state, if the recruit successfully graduates. Depending on where they live, the city would pay mileage and meals.

“If they don’t graduate, we’re stuck with the bill,” said Rehberg, who mentioned that Cornell can have the recruits sign a contract to reimburse the city, which will hold up in court.

Because a 3-5 percent increase is expected in most agencies by January 2024, Rehberg has a short timeline in which to act.

“I’m not asking for anything I don’t think is necessary,” said Rehberg.

Council president Steve Turany didn’t want to poke holes in the plan and realizes officers need to get paid for the dangerous work they do, but was also concerned about what that will do to the city’s budget.

“We’re putting the crimp on everybody else, too,” he said.

Bill Kvapil, council member, said it seemed like they were taking several steps forward at a time, instead of one at a time, and that the money should be spread about equally.

“I think our officers are underpaid, but we need compromise here,” said council member Sandy Schecklman.

Turany said it would be foolish not to take Rehberg’s recommendations into consideration as budget time is upon them, and promised to come up with an answer in the next couple weeks, on the direction they want him to go.

“If we want to bring people here, I think we need this and this is our opportunity to do it,” said Rehberg.