CHAFFEE WANTS TO KEEP TRAINED POLICE AROUND

CHAFFEE -- Tired of training police only to watch them leave for bigger departments, the Chaffee City Council wants new officers to sign on the dotted line.

On Monday, council members unanimously approved a three-year "letter of agreement" for all new officers.

The contract states that the city will pay all expenses for approved professional development classes, including tuition, meals, lodging and wages. In return, officers must stay with the city for three years. If they don't, they will have to repay all training expenses.

City Administrator Ron Eskew said he doesn't expect the contract to prevent applicants from coming to Chaffee. If it does, he said, the council might reconsider its action.

"If you hire a new, inexperienced officer and train him, then he leaves in a year or so, you don't get any return on your investment," Eskew said. "This is at least a guarantee that you will get your money back."

He said several on the force went to departments in the St. Louis area while others went to federal agencies. The city hired one officer knowing he wanted to work for a federal agency.

"We knew he has higher aspirations, but he's from the area and we were very shorthanded," Eskew said.

The department has six officers including Police Chief Keith Carr.

Carr said he supports the new contract as a way to keep good people in Chaffee longer.