Bourbon Police Chief William Martin requested permission from the Town Council to request back-up from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department when facing staffing shortages.
As of the October meeting, Chief Martin was down to three full-time staff. Boubron Police Department Reserve Officer Dave Mitchell retired. Even with the pending and conditional offers to two new recent hires, the department is low on patrolmen. With illness and other transitions, Chief Martin has been working a lot of overtime and has not been able to take sick days or vacation days.
No formal motion was made to support his request, but Vice President Les McFarland offered to help provide back-up as well.
Member Terry Clemens reported that he had a conversation with Marshall County Sheriff Matthew Hassel and that if he is informed of the needed hours he would try to post a car near Bourbon.
The Council approved paying out any remaining and unused vacation days at the end of 2023 for Chief Martin. He will have 18 vacation days if he uses no more through the end of the year.
Chief Martin was encouraged to take some of that time off if possible. President Ward Byers said, “For your physical and mental health try to take as many as you can, but we
get it. We absolutely get it.”
Clemens said, “Thank you for what you are doing.”
McFarland, who is a Lieutenant Detective at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, has provided back up and coverage.
