Citing a recent pay increase by the Arkansas State Police, Sheridan Police Chief Jason Teague told the Sheridan City Council it may be time to consider a pay increase for Sheridan Police Officers.
According to the Sheridan Headlight newspaper, Teague said many law enforcement agencies in the state are seeing officers leave their departments either for other departments who pay more or for other careers. He suggested the issue should be considered at budget time.
At the same meeting, Fire Chief Ben Hammond reported that the fire department made 300 runs during a period of time when it was hot and dry, a condition that causes more fires.
He also cited an increase in the number of calls firefighters are making, explaining that in 2013, there were 204 calls and that number was exceeded by 100 during the month of September alone.
Hammond said a previous city council had approved a proposal to pay volunteer firefighters to be available during the day and he proposed remodeling an area of the current fires station by adding living quarters so that two firefighters could be available 20 hours per day.
The cost of the remodeling was estimated at $60,000.
