Council approves new police initiatives
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

In order to increase supervisor type coverage at the police department, Jasper's city council unanimously approved an officer-incharge proposal by Jasper Police Chief Todd Hunter during the Monday, Sept. 10 regular meeting of the council.

Hunter spoke to the council about the proposal in which the department would appoint two OIC's to act in the place of absent supervisors in the department.

"The department is often challenged with finding supervisor coverage due to illness, injury, vacation and continuing education," Hunter said. "In order to maintain coverage current supervisors must often work on their days off or adjust their schedule."

The OIC's would be an appointment only and not a promotion in the department and would be chosen by the department's sergeants and lieutenant.

Hunter said OIC's would attend a First Line Supervisors course and Field Training Program as a condition of their appointment. He added that the OIC's would prevent many of the coverage challenges and would also decrease overtime incurred by supervisors.

The OIC's selected would receive a one-time monthly stipend of $100 for their duties as acting supervisor.

Council also approved an inmate payphone system proposal by Hunter. Council unanimously approved installation of the pay telephones in the city jail.

"We are proposing the placement of a durable phone in each cell, which would allow 24 hours access to inmates wishing to make private phone calls," Hunter said.

Through research, Hunter found two companies, JCW Electronics I Ltd. and ADS that serve this area.

"These companies place the phones into each cell at not cost to the city for installation and repairs," Hunter said. "The department is not proposing this system to make revenue, but the city will receive a 30 percent commission rate for the monthly net revenue collected by JCW."

Hunter stressed that inmates will still be given several free completed phone calls upon their initial book-in process and inmates with noted hardships will be allowed to make needed phone calls.