Another Minnesota City Could Lose Its Police Department
Another Minnesota city could be losing its police department over low pay.
On Tuesday, Motley Police Chief Jason Borash tendered his resignation to the city council, effective Sept. 22, KMSP-TV reports. The department's other officer had resigned after accepting a job with the Morrison County Sheriff's Office a few months earlier.
According to KMSP, Borash earns $80,000, which is the maximum level for the city's pay structure. Some residents of the city, which has a population of 680 say that puts them behind other municipalities in the region.
"You got to be compatible with your neighbors. Little Falls, Brainerd, Staples, whatever," said a resident at Tuesday's meeting. "If they’re offering $35 an hour, you better match it or you’re not going to have anybody."
Mayor Mike Schmidt doesn't forsee replacing Borah by Sept. 22, and the city is now looking for an interim police chief. If officials are unable to fill that role, then the city will have to continue without one.
"If we don’t have an interim chief we’ll have to vacate the police department office, and we have to utilize the services through the county and the state," said Schmidt.
If Motley loses its police force, it would join Goodhue and other cities in the state that have recently lost departments.
The city council will hold a special session next week to discuss increase the pay of both police positions.
