MORGANTOWN — On a good day, before the first mention of COVID-19, the Morgantown Police Department is 16 officers short.
With nearly a quarter of the department’s 72 officer positions unfilled, overtime is a pretty standard occurrence.
So it raised eyebrows recently when the city informed the department that officers were losing the ability to accrue comp time, or paid time off, in lieu of overtime.
It’s an issue of timing.
According to information provided to The Dominion Post, the MPD’s rank and file learned of the change one week after Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Susan Tucker sided with the Mon-Preston Fraternal Order of Police in a lawsuit over the city’s newly created civilian police review board.
The FOP represents nearly all of the city’s sworn officers.
Following a Dec. 16 hearing, Tucker agreed with the FOP that the review board violated civil service law. The city is awaiting Tucker’s written order before deciding whether it will appeal to the state supreme court.
Morgantown Communications Director Andrew Stacy said the removal of comp time was not targeted at the police department or retaliatory.
He explained that officers will be paid overtime for any work beyond their regular shifts. He also noted comp time is being eliminated for other city departments as well, though he didn’t specify which departments or if the change is city-wide.
“This is because, historically, the comp time is not used within a reasonable time frame,” Stacy said.
Stacy noted law enforcement shortages are common across the state and country.
In October, Matthew Brock, president of the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers/Communications Workers of America Local 2055, told state lawmakers that there is a looming labor crisis in law enforcement.
Add in a contentious relationship between officers and city hall, and the situation becomes even more tenuous.
Last June, about a month after Morgantown City Council voted to implement the police oversight board and the FOP filed suit, former Deputy Mayor Rachel Fetty pushed back against the suggestion that council’s actions would hamper the recruitment of officers, pointing instead to officer pay.
The MPD was 15 officers short at that time.
“Officers are short-staffed and overworked and city administration recognizes that and is working with the Police Chief to find solutions,” Stacy explained.
He said steps being taken by the city include allowing its Police Civil Service Commission to accept applications on a continual basis.
Further, city staff is working with the MPD to enhance recruitment, including the allotment of targeted advertising dollars and the development of a standalone website with a focus on attracting new officers.
City Clerk Christine Wade said the city’s Police Civil Service Commission will perform entry level police officer testing on Feb. 19 at the public safety building.
The deadline to submit an application for that testing date is Feb. 1.
Potential candidates can obtain applications from the Morgantown City Clerk’s office, at 389 Spruce St., or on the city website, at morgantownwv.gov/jobs.
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