The Arnold Police Department recently hired two new officers who previously worked for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Brett Miller, who had been a Jefferson County deputy for the past six years, was sworn in as an Arnold officer on June 28, and Nathaniel Brandt, who had been a deputy for the past five years, was sworn in on July 6, Arnold Police Chief Brian Carroll said.
Miller and Brandt were hired to fill openings on the road patrol created when Josh Crites and Mike Prusinowski were assigned to be school resource officers (SROs) for Fox C-6 School District buildings inside the Arnold city limits, Carroll said.
He said their hires raised the total number of Arnold Police officers to 57.
“Since we added the two additional officers as SROs, it was necessary to bring our full-time sworn staff from 55 officers to 57 officers,” Carroll said. “These two additional officers are needed to fully staff our road patrol. Our road patrol is the backbone of our Police Department and must be a priority when dealing with mandatory manpower.”
Miller, 35, and Brandt, 26, both live in Jefferson County. The city of Arnold will pay them starting salaries of $57,865.60, Carroll said.
Miller was being paid a salary of $60,071 as a deputy, and Brandt’s salary with the Sheriff’s Office was $59,670, Capt. Nic Forler said
Carroll said Arnold was able to hire the two new officers because voters approved a 1-cent sales tax increase in April to help fund the Police Department.
“Prior to the passage of the tax initiative, we were operating under a hiring freeze,” Carroll said. “We ran short on manpower and had to make various schedule adjustments. We had to pull officers from specialized units to make sure we had the necessary coverage on the street.
“If the proposition didn’t pass, I am certain we would have been looking at additional manpower cuts. We are very fortunate that our residents realize the importance of public safety, and this was evident in the election results. The tax measure will allow us to continue to provide the best possible police services. This starts with the recruitment and selection of top-quality police officers. This is evident with the hiring of our last group of officers.”
He said Miller began working for Arnold Police on July 5, and Brandt’s first day was July 10.
New equipment
Arnold Police officers not only has help from two new officers, but also will feel a weight lifted off their backs.
The department will purchase 57 load-bearing vests for its officers to distribute their equipment more evenly.
City Council members voted unanimously July 6 to pay the Leon Uniform Co. $19,380 for the Uniform Outer Carriers vests. The purchase is funded by drug forfeiture money the city has received, Carroll said.
He said this is the first time the Police Department will provide officers with the load-bearing vests.
Carroll said officers will insert their bullet resistant vests into the new vests as well as store their equipment on the new vests.
He said the vests will relieve strain put on officers’ backs and waists by letting them carry some of their equipment on the vests rather than on their department-issued duty belt.
Carroll said officers can carry up to 30 pounds of equipment on their belts, which may cause pain in their backs and hips.
He also said officers work 12-hour shifts and spend the majority of their shift sitting in a car, and the officers’ postures are affected by the gear they carry on their belts, leading to lower back and hip pain.
“This transition is very important to the health of our officers,” Carroll said. “The research is clear that lower back pain is a significant health issue for police officers. This research also shows that the load-bearing vests are a much safer and healthier alternative to the traditional duty belt. By taking the gear off the belt and evenly distributing it across the vest, there is less strain on the officer.”
Carroll said officers have purchased vests in the past with their own money and been allowed to wear them on duty. He also said the department did a trial run with vests for the last several months to make sure officers liked them.
“We must continue to put the health and wellness of our officers as a top priority,” Carroll said.