Mar. 23, 2021 7:15p
(WGTD)---The Kenosha Police Department is burning through overtime as it deals with a large number of unexpected resignations.
The matter first came to light during the aldermen’s comments section of last week’s city council meeting. Alder Domenic Ruffalo said a shortage of officers doesn’t bode well as summer approaches, and after a series of shootings in the city. "We have to get a handle on violence in the city of Kenosha," he said. "Otherwise we're in for some big trouble."
Police Dept. spokesman Sgt. Leo Viola says 15 sworn officer positions are currently vacant, although the department already has interviews scheduled with potential replacements.
He attributed the large number of resignations in the Kenosha department—and other cities’ departments-- to the current climate toward the police profession.
Viola says the department has been able to maintain a prescribed minimum number of officers on the road at all times, but the number of days with only the minimum have surged. Viola said this is the worst it's been in the 15 years he's been on the force.
There may be hope. Richard Stein, the Director of Law Enforcement Training at Gateway Technical College, says enrollment in his programs remain high.
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