Centralia Police have their biggest eligibility list in a number of years as eleven made the final cut by the Centralia Police and Fire Commission last week.
Administrative Sergeant Steve Whritenour says there are still several other steps to be completed before a candidate can be hired and begin the fulltime officer academy in Belleville. He fears that could cut the number to five or six, but he’s hopeful the list will at least allow for the hiring of five new officers at the beginning of next year to bring the sworn force of the police department up to its authorized strength of 26.
Whritenour says the fire and police commission will start background checks on the candidates at the top of the list. Passing a physical fitness power test will also be required to begin the academy training program. Whritenour says State Police have agreed to now allow a pre-test before employment to stop some candidates from failure at the start of the academy.
Whritenour says the department is now short five officers with the retirement of Jamie Ramsey who will become the new Central City Police Chief and another officer who resigned to move to Texas.
The Centralia Police Department is currently further depleted by three officers off because of injury, one who is serving in Kuwait with a reserve unit, and two who are off because of COVID-19.
The Department has added Central City Sergeant John Hinkle on a lateral transfer and could cut down on the number of new officers that need to be hired if they are able to attract others through the lateral transfer program.
