Greenfield Referendum Will Ask Voters For New Police, Fire Staff

GREENFIELD, WI — Voters who go to their polling place this November for the fall elections will also have a local referendum to consider.

Citing a need for more police and fire protection, and lower police staffing when compared with their suburban neighbors, Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt and Fire Chief Jon Cohn approached the common council to increase police and fire staffing through a referendum.

The Greenfield Common Council voted unanimously on July 31 to approve a referendum question that will ask voters whether they approve of the City exceeding state-imposed levy limits by $975,000 in 2019 to hire five police officers and two fire department personnel.

Neitzke said the objective is to staff to the proper level so constituents are protected. The departments could always use more manpower, but the city has to be realistic, he said during the meeting.

During the meeting, Wentlandt said it takes six people to staff one position 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In looking at staffing, he told the counsil that there is not
a need to staff the third shift as deeply as the other shifts, so that is why they can get by with 5 more
officers.

Wentlandt and Cohn said they would like a referendum to let the public decide what level of service they want.

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