CYPRESS : Council OKs Hiring of Four New Officers

The City Council this week gave the Police Department the go-ahead to hire four officers.

The decision came after a late-night closed-session meeting Monday, just hours after members of the Cypress Public Safety Employees Assn. staged their second picket at City Hall.

The council and police have been at odds with each other over contract negotiations for more than a year.

The officers told the council that they are overworked and understaffed.

Matt Robinson, the union president, said crime is increasing and the Police Department is so understaffed that officers from surrounding areas are often called in to help patrol city streets.

Because of the officers’ concern, Mayor Richard Partin said, the council asked the department how much money was being spent on overtime.

In response, Police Chief Daryl Wicker presented a report stating that about half of the $500,000 overtime budget was used last year. After reviewing the information, the council decided that the other half of the budget should be used to hire four new officers.

“We’ve had two demonstrations, and the most pressing point that (police) have raised is that they are understaffed and they are just working way too much overtime,” Partin said. “Now we’ll be giving them more help.”

Police were surprised to hear about the council’s move.

“It’s a great thing,” Officer Jeff Wong said, adding that he was shocked when he heard the news. The council has “always been slow to respond, and although we may not have the (new officers) employed until July, it’s a welcomed relief.”

Applications for the four patrol positions are now being accepted at the personnel department in City Hall, officials said.

The city hopes to fill the positions within four months. The officers’ pay would range from $3,102 to $3,257 a month.