CORRECTION: Neillsville City Council Approves Pre-Employment Agreement for Neillsville Police Department
Thursday, December 13th, 2018 -- 10:56 AM
-I have a correction for you on a city council story from yesterday.On Tuesday, the Neillsville City Council approved a pre-employment agreement for the Neillsville Police Department. Applicants interested in a position as a Neillsville Police Officer must sign this 2-year agreement before they can even be considered for employment. I reported yesterday that if newly hired officers signed the agreement, they would receive financial incentives if they stayed the entire 2 years. However, that is NOT the case. Police Chief Scott Klueckmann stated that it costs the department about $3,000 to properly train and equip a new officer and, if they leave within the first six months, the city loses that money. If a new officer is hired and they choose to leave the position, barring any unusual circumstances, before the 2 years is up, they will have to pay back the city a set amount of dollars each month.
For instance, if they leave in the first month of the agreement, they will have to pay back $3,000. If they leave the first month of the first month of the second year, they have to pay back $1,500 and if they leave on the last month of the agreement, they have to pay back $125. In my story yesterday, I believed those dollar amounts were bonuses new officers would receive, but, again, that is NOT the case. I apologize for the incorrect reporting on my part.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.