Gig Harbor mayor OKs hiring of two more police officers, bringing force up to compliment

Mayor Kit Kuhn says he has given permission to the Gig Harbor Police Department to hire two more officers, bringing the department up to its full compliment of 21.

Police Chief Kelly Busey said Monday he will begin the process as soon as his officers have a new contract with the city, expected within a few weeks.

“I have the go-ahead to start recruiting now,” Busey told The Gateway. “ I’m waiting for just a bit because I feel confident that we will have a new Police Officer contract in the next week or two. I’d rather go out and recruit with the new salary and benefit information in hand.”

The city and Teamsters Local 117, which represents the officers, have been negotiating several months.

The police department is budgeted for 21 sworn officers, but currently has only 19. At times, due to illness and leaves, the number has dipped to 17. This has led to a lot of overtime work for the remaining officers.

Kuhn announced his approval in a blog posted Dec. 18, saying he had made the decision “a couple of weeks ago.” The Gateway ran a story about officers complaining of the shortage on Dec. 5.

In other City Hall news, the city’s new administrator, Bob Larson, was to have begun his job Monday. Larson, formerly administrator of Snoqualmie in King County, replaces Wade Ferris, who resigned last June.

Kuhn said the city is also taking applications for a new tourism and communications director, and for an information technology manager. Mimi Jansen has been the acting tourism director, and Kay Johnson, the IT manager, retired in December.

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 12:00 AM.