A 33-year member of the Centralia Police Department has resigned effective Thursday.
Lieutenant Todd Hempen spent his entire career with the Centralia Police Department, joining the department as a patrolman on October 10th, 1988.
Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson says Hempen rose through the ranks serving as Street Supervisor, Operations Commander, Sergeant, Lieutenant and School Resource Officer. Dodson says the department wishes Hempen the best in his retirement.
Hempen’s retirement resignation leaves the department nine officers down on their authorized strength of 26, including six openings. The police
department is looking to hire five to attend the police academy in January that will complete academy and field training and be on patrol on their own by next June. Two others are out on injuries and are expected to be back by the end of the month. Another is serving in Kuwait and is scheduled to return to duty in February.
Dodson will be meeting with the Centralia Police and Fire Commission on Friday where one of the topics is starting a lateral transfer list for experienced officers that want to transfer to the Centralia Police Department. He says that method could be used to fill Hempen’s slot since he is not able to get a seventh position in the January academy for a new officer.
Hempen’s retirement will also leave one of the two school resource officer positions open. Dodson says due to lack of manpower for the immediate future the one remaining officer will be assisted by other officers who will not be assigned strictly to the position.
In the meantime, Dodson says a lot of overtime is being utilized to keep manpower on the street up.
