Flint Township View

Officer promoted to sergeant




FLINT TWP. — The Flint Township Board of Trustees Monday agreed to promote a township police officer to the rank of sergeant.

Police Chief Kevin Salter said that one of the department’s current sergeants is eligible to retire in September, and it is vital that members of the department be afforded opportunities to develop their skills and advance in their careers.

Salter said the department does not have enough supervisory personnel for the number of young officers it employs. In 2005, the department had three lieutenants and eight sergeants with 38 sworn members. Now the department has two lieutenants and six sergeants and currently employs more officers. Salter said 65 percent of the department’s personnel with the rank of patrol officers have less than five years departmental experience.

Salter said with the current supervisory staffing level, it is difficult to allow sergeants to attend valuable “staff and command” training. Because this type of training usually lasts 10 to 11 weeks, replacing an absent supervisory officer by using overtime is not feasible. When supervisory officers take vacation time or sick time, it almost always results in overtime as well.

Salter said the finding for an additional sergeant position is available in the 2019 police department budget and asked that the Flint Township Civil Service Commission provide the name of one eligible candidate for promotion to police sergeant.

Supervisor Karyn Miller will send a letter to Civil Service Commission President Donald Rockwell requesting that the commission provide the name of the highestscoring candidate for the position.