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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Wanted: Ely police officers, but experience preferred

City council OKs posting for anticipated open positions

Keith Vandervort
Posted 5/4/22

ELY – Wanted: Experienced patrol officers to join the Ely Police Department. The Ely city council Tuesday night, on a recommendation from the Employee Relations Committee, approved a request …

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Wanted: Ely police officers, but experience preferred

City council OKs posting for anticipated open positions

Posted

ELY – Wanted: Experienced patrol officers to join the Ely Police Department.
The Ely city council Tuesday night, on a recommendation from the Employee Relations Committee, approved a request from Police Chief Chad Houde to post an anticipated open position in the department with emphasis on attracting a lateral officer with at least two years of experience.
“As all of you know, there are shortages of people everywhere,” said council member Heidi Omerza, “and in the world of police officers that is no exception. We have been in ‘training mode’ for a very long time and (Chief Houde) is trying to find a police officer who has a little bit of experience.”
Houde said that a hiring crisis exists in many professions, especially law enforcement.
“We are drastically down in recruiting across the state,” he said. “Vermilion Community College’s numbers are actually very good in their wildlife law enforcement and parks program, but schools like Hibbing have 14 officers graduating this year and just seven plan to graduate next year. Fond du Lac College usually averages 25 graduates and right now they have 13.”
Ely’s top cop explained that advertising for law enforcement vacancies in the Twin Cities and Duluth has increased.
“They are enticing them with signing bonuses and a variety of things,” Houde said. “This might be an issue in the coming years and that’s why I would like to see us hire a lateral officer, perhaps someone who has experience and may be looking to have a career here.”
He said he anticipates a current Ely officer to accept a position with another agency later this month.
“And I do have another officer that has put in for (an open position) with St. Louis County further out, so we will be down possibly two officers by the middle of summer.”
Houde added, “When bigger agencies call they have a lot more perks and opportunities. We have a great department. I’ve been here 17 years and I don’t plan on going anywhere. There are some younger officers who want more action and more calls.”
Just recently, to fill two positions open from retirements, the department had as many as 25 applicants in the hiring class.
“We hired three officers off that list,” he said. “In the following year, we had five applicants apply and just two showed up for interviews. A lot has changed in law enforcement in the last three years.”
Mayor Roger Skraba highlighted the great fishing opportunities for those living in Ely, but did not offer any incentives, such as a new fishing boat and motor, to attract new police officers to the community.
In a related matter, the council approved a recommendation from the Employee Relations Committee to offer the position of the city’s emergency manager to Ely police officer Bradley Roy, who has been on the force for five years.
“Throughout my time with the Ely Police Department, I have learned some of the demands that this position can have,” he said in a letter of application. “I participated in two drills with the former emergency management director, and while working on these drills, I got hands-on experience of what was expected during a crisis.”
Roy added, “Working in my current position, I have worked on always keeping up with current technology, new methods to do the job, and strived to continue my education. One of my best qualities is the understanding that working alongside people is more beneficial than trying to work alone.”
Houde also lobbied for applicants for the police department’s two open positions for summer parking enforcement officers. He noted that the department took delivery of the new squad car and anticipates a roll out by Memorial Day.
Other business
In other business, the council:
• Appointed Len Groom to the Cemetery Committee and Laura Butterfield to the Ely Tree Board.
• Went into closed session to discuss and develop a purchase agreement for the sale of the Community Center.