Mayor, council agree to fully fund Bardstown Police officer positions

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 11:45 a.m.  — The City of Bardstown’s proposed 2013-14 budget will include funding that will allow the department to be fully staffed.

Bardstown Mayor Bill Sheckles said he would like the police department to be fully staffed at 27 funded police positions. Previous year’s budgets only funded 25 of the authorized 27 positions, Sheckles noted.

The move will allow the department to employ 26 officers; the 27th position is currently being held for a city officer who is on military deployment.

The move at Tuesday’s council meeting marks the first time in recent history the city’s budget has fully funded the police department’s authorized positions, Councilman John Royalty noted. “I don’t think the department has ever been a full strength – ever,” he said.

“I wanted to get 26 officers on the street right now,” Sheckles said. The 27th authorized position will be funded when the deployed officer returns, he said. “We’ll amend the budget to do that then.”

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