Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton went to Frankfort Wednesday seeking state assistance in boosting the city’s police numbers. The Senate "State and Local Government Committee" approved SB 89, which allows Lexington to rehire recently retired officers. Gorton testified before the panel.
“As Senate Douglas said, it is temporary for a year. Like all cities across the nation we have had difficulties hiring police officers,” said Gorton.
The Fayette Urban-County Government structure requires state approval for this personnel matter. Gorton told committee members the city has been trying to boost the number of officers.
“We’ve significantly raised salaries. We raised our maximum starting age. We increased our recruiting and advertising efforts. We have increased the number of recruit classes that we fund,” said Gorton.
Gorton said the urban county government’s police force currently has 533 sworn officers, down by just over a hundred officers. The bill now goes on to the full Senate.
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