Several representatives from Greene County and the City of Jefferson attended the Jefferson Law Enforcement Committee meeting Tuesday.

The main topic of discussion was the County relaying its message to City officials about having to cover any open shifts from the police department, due to loss of staff. Currently, the eight-member police department is down two officers – including an administrative position – with another officer at the Law Enforcement Academy for six more weeks, leaving just five officers, including the chief. 

Police Chief Mark Clouse said two of his remaining officers are interviewing for other positions, and he is certain to lose his sergeant in the next three-four weeks. With that additional loss, Clouse said there will be open 12-hour shifts. Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams read from a prepared statement to begin the discussion.

“The City has put Jefferson Police Department issues on the back burner for years. It seems that the City Administrator and Council want a ‘yes man’ for the position of chief of police instead of someone who has the best interest of his employees and citizens in mind.” 

When asked if the Council supports the police department, Councilmember Pat Zmolek gave this response.

“I fully support them (the police) but again I don’t want to speak for each one of them individually (on the council) but, I haven’t heard anybody say, ‘No, we don’t want a Jefferson Police Department.”

Williams said if there is no 28E agreement in place before the department loses more officers, his office is required to provide law enforcement coverage for those uncovered shifts. However, deputies would only respond to emergency calls. Two choices were talked about for a 28E agreement, including full coverage provided by the sheriff’s office and responding only to emergency calls. Clouse gave a closing comment towards the end of the meeting.

“I would just like to have an end game (and) to know that our goals are all the same. Where we’re trying to get to, it’s just sometimes I feel like we come here and we talk about the same thing and then we go home for a month and we come back and do it again.”

The subject will be further discussed at this week’s City Council meeting.