MENTONE – Mentone Town Council approved hiring Jeremiah Kinsey as the new deputy marshal Wednesday.
Council President Jill Gross said there were three applicants the council had to choose from: Kinsey, Keihan Hanley and Ryan Piper.
Kinsey lives in Tippecanoe and is married with no children yet. He has been in the National Guard for 12 years. Town Marshal Keaton Schopf said Kinsey doesn’t have any police experience and will have to go through full academy training.
The council decided Kinsey will be paid $42,000 a year with a $1,500 bonus once he completes training.
Gross said if they’re going to send anyone to training, she thought it was a good idea that person signed a contract. Gross said the officer does have to sign the manual.
Schopf said North Webster and Pierceton make officers sign contracts. He also said on the front of the application for the position, it does state the officer may have to sign a three-year contract.
When discussing who to hire during Wednesday’s meeting, Schopf said he wanted Piper to be hired.
Councilwoman Shelly Krueger brought up a “Giglio letter” given to the council about Piper that was discussed during an executive session in January. A Giglio letter or list is essentially a roster of officers for whom material impeachment evidence is known, according to the University of North Carolina School of Government website.
She had concerns about the liability for the town in regards to if they hired Piper. Schopf disagreed with Krueger and said Piper would be a benefit to the community. Schopf also said Piper is ready to go with the position and doesn’t need the full training Kinsey needs.
Krueger said the council wasn’t making the decision lightly.
Schopf had concerns about Kinsey or Hanley leaving after three years.
Krueger said Kinsey had experience with the military. Schopf said military experience doesn’t necessarily translate to police experience.
Schopf said he would give Kinsey a call to offer him the position and will give the council any updates he gets.
In other business, the council:
• Heard there will be a dedication for a Habitat for Humanity home in Mentone at 5:15 p.m. Friday at the Emergency Services Building with an open house afterward.
• Heard there will be a steering committee meeting for the downtown master plan on Feb. 20 at the Bell Memorial Library.
• Gave permission for the Mentone Youth League to have its opening day parade at 8:30 a.m. April 26, starting at Mentone Elementary School.