FORT GIBSON — Fort Gibson’s Police Department will operate with less overtime in the near future — something that has been a bit of a problem for the town in recent months and led to the resignation of its last police chief.

Thanks to the recent hiring of six reserve officers at the town’s regular Board of Trustees meeting, the town should have enough officers to adequately cover every shift, said Police Chief Clint Vernon.

“This is something that has worked for me in the past, and something that is beneficial for the officers and the town,” Vernon said.

Fort Gibson’s former police chief of about a year, Terry Johnston, left in early June after he said he was pressured to do something he felt was impossible — keep two officers on every shift and greatly reduce overtime costs.

The police department had four reserve officers in place, though he does not have their schedules and doesn’t know if they were active, Vernon said.

Johnston said when he resigned it was nearly impossible to keep officers on the street with nine officers, several of whom could be off at the same time because of vacation or sick leave.

Johnston also said as police chief he could not spend very much time working patrol because of state law.

So the new chief, Vernon, is working on ways to meet the town’s demands and keep costs low while providing adequate coverage.

The Fraternal Order of Police agreement stipulates two officers should be on duty at all times.

However, Vernon said it’s not a “have to” but a recommendation in the agreement.

“It’s a misconception people have,” Vernon said. “But I do support having two officers on duty at a time — it’s about officer safety, and it’s important to me. That is a reason to bring on the reserves is to cover the voids.”

And Vernon has no problem working patrol shifts, he said.

“I’ve been doing that since the second or third day I got here,” he said. “I try to lead by example.”

Vernon asked the Board of Trustees to hire six reserve officers. Reserve officers are unpaid, but they can acquire uniforms through the department if they are available.

Reserve officers pay for their training and tools.

“All but two I selected are CLEET certified officers and this allows them to get the hours they need to keep their certifications,” he said, referring to certification by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

“But they also bring all kinds of experience and knowledge to the team, meaning all of our officers, who have knowledge and experience to share as well,” Vernon said.

Vernon said one reserve officer has 18 years experience and another 23 years-plus experience, for example.

Two reserve officers the board voted to hire need to undergo academy training and will not be on the job until training is complete, he said.

However, in the near future the town will see some new faces working as officers from time to time.

Reserve officers do wear uniforms, are armed, do drive marked police units, and have the same duties as a regular officer. None will be patrolling in personal vehicles.

Reach Wendy Burton at (918) 684-2926 or wburton

@muskogeephoenix.com.