Sparta’s Auxiliary Officer Program Starting Well

Sparta’s new auxiliary police officer program off to an even better start than expected.

The program aims to supplement the city’s officer shortage. Sparta Police Chief Nick Dunn said in the first month, one officer has already been hired and many inquiries from several other officers.

“With a reserve officer, if they’re not post certified, they have to ride with a full-time officer to kind of help supplement them,” Dunn said. “This one can work on his own, so he takes the spot of a full-time officer when he’s here. So, we don’t have to stick him with somebody.”

Dunn said he hopes to hire several more officers over the coming months. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said even one officer will provide a much-needed lift for the department’s heavy workload.

Lowery said interest from certified officers like this one even creates the possibility of hiring them full-time.

“Here’s a certified guy that, if we would be even considering coming on, we need to look at the money issues with that, but that’s something we need to look at,” Lowery said. “I think that would help with the overload as well. Just something to think about.”

Lowery said departments across the nation are struggling to keep officers staffed. He said Sparta is fortunate to have retired firefighters and retired police officers who would be willing to offset the hiring challenges. He said the original plan was centered around officers who could simply offer manpower, but getting a certified officer onboard is an added advantage.

“He’s wanting to come here and help us out and he’s an instructor on a lot of things,” Dunn said. “So, he’s been a police officer since 2018.”