JAMESTOWN, N>D. (NewsDakota.com) – To be competitive and retain current staff, the City of Jamestown will consider reclassification of Police Department positions.

Jamestown Deputy Auditor Jay Sveum says they’ve spent a lot of time over the past year to improve ways to recruit and maintain current staff.

Sveum stated their recommendation would be to have the Police Department eliminate two unfilled police officer positions, saving an estimated $131,000.

Sveum says they could use that money to help their situation.

Sveum says the recommendation comes at an important time, considering the department has lost 11 officers, or a third of the department, in the last 14 months. Three have left since January 1st this year.

He says this will also be distributed to increase pay for other officer positions between 7% or 9.5%.

Sveum says law enforcement has become a difficult position to try and fill, but he thinks the reclassification is a reasonable decision.

Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger says their department is operating essentially understaffed as new officers continue to train and adapt to the job for the first few years. He says this is what leads to higher costs and overtime for his staff.

Sveum says the increase will be used for two positions on the department that were already budgeted for 2020.

The committee unanimously moved to approve.