Twin Lakes Police Chief Dale Racer is looking to bring back a detective position to the department and fill one of the two open lieutenant positions.
By bringing back the detective position — vacant since 2005 — and having it change every three years Racer said he is looking to provide some upward mobility to young officers on the small police force looking for growth opportunities.
“This way, there is movement every three years,” Racer said at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
In Racer’s plan, there also would be a designated officer to act as a detective understudy. Presumably, that person would be ready to assume the detective position after three years of being an understudy.
The detective would receive top officer pay of plus a $100 monthly stipend while serving as detective. After the three yeas is over, the office would return to patrol duties.
The issue does need to be negotiated with the police officers’ union, village administrator David Cox said. No Village Board member expressed any objection to Racer’s plan Monday night.
Racer reorganized the department last year with three lieutenants as supervisors. However, Lt. John Andrews was killed in an off-duty car crash in February and Lt. Joseph Balog recently asked to go back to patrol duties. That has left Lt. Dennis Linn and Racer handling all supervisory duties.
For now, Racer is seeking to hire only one replacement lieutenant.
Racer’s plan retains the 13 sworn police officers.
