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Falls City Council Hears Proposal for Police / Fire Officer

By John Nixon

06/03/2014

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(KLZA) -- The idea of creating a position of part-time police officer and part-time fire truck driver made for debate between Falls City Police and Fire Chiefs during Monday nights City Council meeting. First Ward Councilman Mike Dougherty placed the item on the agenda.

In May, the Council voted to hire another full-time Driver for the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department to replace the retiring Ralph Gilkerson. Police Chief Duane Armbruster proposed the idea to the Council Monday night suggesting the person could cover shifts for the Police Department part-time, do code enforcement with the power to arrest and issue citations and reports. Armbruster thinks it would save the city money.

Fire Chief Ken Simpson has the duties of building inspections and the second driver has been handling nuisance complaints for the City. Simpson, currently the only full-time fire truck driver was not in favor of the new idea, noting it is in direct opposition to what the Council approved in May.

Simpson said he does not see how the Chief of Police felt he could set a schedule for the Fire Department without a full understanding of their duties. Simpson went on to say that with the added duties he and the other driver has taken on in recent years, the department already overtaxed.

City Administrator Gary Jorn said he was not originally in favor of the idea but has changed his thinking, saying he sees it as a compromise to benefit both departments.

The Council took no action Monday night, tabling the agenda item to gather more information on the proposal.