A state of emergency in Yazoo City has been declared by city leaders due to the shortage of certified patrol officers at the police department.
The declaration was accepted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen during its November board meeting. That resolution states that the board “hereby find that conditions of extreme peril to safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of Yazoo City, Mississippi, as a result of the shortage of certified patrol officers currently employed by the City…”
The state of emergency allowed city leaders to authorize overtime pay for all salaried employees within the Yazoo City Police Department who are working more than “their established work hours to cover patrol shifts due to the shortage of certified patrol officers.”
Diligent efforts to hire officers continue within the police department, which has been struggling with manpower for years. With competitive salaries in neighboring agencies, including the federal prison, retaining officers has been difficult.
Unfortunately, some recent hires have been rescinded by city leaders due to candidates failing to meet all pre-employment conditions.
