Police Chief Conny Clay Looking to Expand OPD Force
The Olney Police Department (OPD) is on a mission to expand the police force. OPD currently has two officers, and Chief Conny Clay said he would like to increase that number to six officers, which includes himself. Clay said, “It would be ideal to have at least two officers on duty to back each other up, which improves safety. One of the goals I set when I came to Olney was to make sure the officers are safe.”
Clay said another goal he set is to rebuild the police department and restore community trust. Expanding the police force is a step closer to achieving that goal. He said growing the force is less about filling positions and more about selecting the right people for the job. “I must put the right people on the job. When I interview people and review their background, I try to determine if they want to be here and if they want to protect the community,” Clay said.
Applicants who do not reside in Olney should not be hesitant to apply for a job with OPD since it is not a requirement for OPD officers to live in Olney. However, if an officer chooses to have a takehome vehicle, the officer must live within 5 miles of the city limits. Clay added, “I would like to staff the force with people who are from Olney, who want to be here and have shown they want to make our city safe.”
The job opportunity with OPD may be appealing to people who want to attend the police academy, which takes approximately 19 weeks to complete. Clay discussed the overall process. “After the academy, [the graduate] must go through two months of field training to become familiar with the city ordinances, streets and other regulations. If the officer is selected to be a school resource officer (SRO), they must attend a school resource class that is one to two weeks long.” Clay concluded, “Hiring someone right out of the academy with no experience would take almost one year before the officer can be on his or her own; Police academy graduates must be hired onto a police force for their license to be effective.”
Financial aid and sponsorships are usually available at various academies to assist with the cost of attending the police academy that is estimated at $4500.00. In some cases, the City of Olney may consider sponsoring a student for completing the police academy if the student is willing to sign an agreement to comply with specific requirements.
The starting salary is $15.00 an hour. “Wages are based on the applicant’s credentials such as their classification and certifications among other things,” said Clay. He explained the salary is competitive with the salaries of other officers who work in similar areas. “We did a survey of the pay scale for officers in the surrounding areas, and the pay is competitive based on that survey,” he said.
Review the job requirements in the job posting located in the Classifieds section. After reviewing the requirements, you may email your résumé and the completed job application to cclay@olneypd.net. You may also mail the documents to the City of Olney, 101 Hamilton Street, Olney, Texas 76374 or apply in person. You may call 940-564-5550 with questions. The City of Olney is an equal opportunity employer.