By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
For a community of its size and unique features, the Whitewater Police Department has a comparable staffing structure to its peers, Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher reported recently.
“I think we’re in line, or perhaps a little bit low,” Otterbacher said at a Nov. 6 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission. Otterbacher was asked to comment on the city’s existing staffing flow chart.
As a university town, Whitewater obviously is unique from most other communities. Otterbacher’s statement looked at the staffing make-up in other statewide communities with a university.
Despite her assessment of being a bit under the bar, Otterbacher said the scenario is mitigated by a long-standing, collaborative working relationship with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s police force.
“We don’t police outside one another’s parameters, but they are always quick to back us up when we need it,” Otterbacher said. “We use the same radio frequency, which helps.”
In other business at the commission’s Nov. 6 meeting:
• Otterbacher shared with commissioners a recent active threat training session with teachers in the Whitewater Unified School District. With high-profile incidents in mind, including last year’s tragedy in Connecticut, Otterbacher said it is imperative training stays at the forefront of teachers’ minds.
• Discussed the process of filling an open patrol officer position. Otterbacher said the department received 125 applications. Of the candidate pool, 20 were interviewed and four have advanced to a finalist stage that entails thorough reviews and background checks.
“We’ve been told we have a pretty extensive (applicant) process,” Otterbacher said. “I have a tremendous amount of pride for the people working for the Whitewater Police Department, and that’s not an accident.”
• Otterbacher discussed some of the Whitewater Police Department’s goals in 2014, including a study of the existing staffing structure and the anticipated arrival of a K9 to detect drugs.
