by Mari Radtke
Chief Nathan Bremer retired official on Friday August 26. Part time officer Ryan List, a Paullina resident and Sioux County Ranger also serves as a part time police officer for the City of Paullina. Cain Junkman, a reserve officer serving the Cities of Sutherland and Calumet through a unique police force made up of a Chief and part time officers also covered part time in Paullina.
Mayor of Sutherland Kay Gifford and Chief of Police Brent Koppe attended the August 18 Paullina Council meeting. They presented a option for coverage to the City of Paullina while it sought to hire a new police chief and additional part or full time officers. The law enforcement plan, as it was called in Paullina documents was approved by council. The plan included the Paullina Council to attend a Sutherland City Council meeting to discuss the possibility of joining in the 28E for law enforcement with Sutherland and Calumet. It was believed that Junkman’s status as a reserve officer could continue with a certified officer to oversee him for the time being. A legal opinion from Thor Klinker said differently.
Klinker’s research into the state and local laws determined that State law provides a menu of authorized personnel to supervise a reserve officer. Paullina’s ordinances required the mayor to appoint a chief and that reserve officers could only report to a chief. Koppe declined to accept a temporary chief position due to other current commitments. That leaves Junkman unable to serve until a chief is appointed.
At Paullina’s September 2 council meeting the Mayor Marlin Sjaarda updated council on the developments. He also announced that Officer Junkman resigned his position.
Sjaarda shared with council that he an emergency session had been called and held to discuss the situation and that council approved Sjaarda to reach out to the O’Brien County sheriff searching for agreement to provide coverage to Paullina. It’s not clear why the meeting couldn’t wait 24 hours and be properly posted.
Sherriff Bruce Devereaux, a Paullina resident, explained that he and Sjaarda reached an agreement for coverage in Paullina. He would allow the O’Brien County deputies that wanted to pick up the extra hours to be hired as part time police officers for the city at $35 per hour. They would use their county cars and equipment. It is unclear who pays for the fuel or what insurance is controlling.
Sjaarda’s notes read at the September 2 meeting have been requested, but at this time no opinion from Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) has been released.
The next Sutherland City Council meeting is Monday September 8 at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers.