Carey police short staffed

CAREY — Carey Police Sgt. Alex Dewey resigned earlier this month, leaving some residents to wonder about the vulnerability of the village. In Dewey's resignation letter, he says it wasn't a decision he took lightly but "due to current leadership under the interim mayor, it has become increasingly difficult to carry out my duties effectively," the letter read. "The ongoing efforts to push out employees and advance a personal agenda have created a work environment that no longer aligns with my professional values or commitment to public service." Currently, the village has three full-time officers with one more part-time and another auxiliary. Carey Police Chief Jeff Conley said eight full-time officers is considered a fully staffed department. When asked for comments about why the Carey police may be struggling to keep officers, Conley reported that the problem is not limited to only Carey. "Every department you speak to is short on officers and are having a hard time finding officers to fill open positions," Conley said. "(The problem) is all over." To help fill positions, Conley says he is working vigorously to recruit officers by posting openings on state job boards and contacting nearby schools offering academy classes. Though he said he has been able to get several applicants, the process of hiring new officers doesn't happen overnight. "It's not a quick hiring phase," Conley said. It takes time to fully vet new officers for duty. "It's progressing, but like anything, it probably doesn't move fast enough." While new officers are waiting to be hired, Wyandot County Sheriff Todd Frey reported he and Conley have a verbal agreement that deputies can step in when needed, so far only having utilized the Sheriff's Office once since Dewey's resignation. Conley also said he is working with current Carey officers to maintain full coverage of the village as much as possible and is offering overtime to do so. "I think we have a good contingency plan currently," Conley said. "We will service the Carey citizens as best we can with the staffing that is currently here… We're doing the best we can, it's just a trying time."