Posted: 4/17/07
Jessica Lewis decides not to accept position here
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
In a memo to the city council, Caledonia Police Chief Randy Shefelbine reported newly-approved part-time police officer Jessica Lewis decided not to accept the job in Caledonia and has accepted a position in another state. The announcement was made during the April 9 council meeting.
In late-March, the council agreed to have Lewis work on a part-time basis. Lewis had earlier been removed from the payroll after a committee consisting of council members Paul Fisch and Mike Morey reviewed the poilice department budget and determined there was not any money for a regular, part-time officer.
The cost to have Lewis work part time would have been approximately $12,000 per year. In 2006, according to figures provided by the city, the police department exceeded its budget by $84,000.
The department currently has five officers including the chief, and a roster of officers who can fill in shift, but no regular, part-time officers.
In February, Schefelbine told the council that Lewis was invaluable to the local police department for a number of reasons. As the only female officer on the Caledonia Police Department, Lewis was especially useful when the department investigated sexual assaults, Shefelbine noted. In sexual assault cases, a lot of times the victims prefer to speak to a female officer than a male officers. "Sheís been comforting to those victims," Shefelbine said.
The council took no action concerning this issue at the April 9 meeting.
Caledonia Argus
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