(Arnolds Park)– The Arnolds Park and Okoboji Police Departments are looking into the possibility of hiring an additional officer who would act solely as an investigator. Arnolds Park Police Chief Al Krueger tells KUOO news the position would be shared between the two departments…
“With everything going on I think it would help the cities of Okoboji and Arnolds Park to have an investigator out there solving crimes, helping victims of crime, and pursuing arrests and perpetrators and offenders of violent crimes and major incidences to help our cause.”
Krueger says the departments are strained whenever a patrol officer has to be taken off normal duty to conduct an investigation…
“What happens in a small department like we have and Okoboji has, we have to do patrol and when we have a major incident we take time away from patrol and working within the city limits of our respective cities, and with an investigator they’ll be able to take care of those crimes and travel or go interview victims or offenders without taking away from the citizens of Okoboji and Arnolds Park.”
Krueger says their goal is to hire an investigator from within one of the departments…
“We haven’t gotten down to who will be the hiring authority but I’m assuming somebody from the city of Okoboji, Personnel Committee in Arnolds Park and the Chief of Police of each city and the Mayors. But we’ll sit down and discuss who would be the best fit for the position out of both of the cities.”
Krueger says if they’re able to hire an investigator from within, that the hiring authority for that particular department would then need to hire another patrol officer.
The Arnolds Park City Council Wednesday evening approved the concept. The Okoboji City Council is scheduled to act on the matter next month.
