Northfield to boost police force

Northfield trustees approved a budget amendment that will allow officials to expand the ranks of the police department.

The expansion means at full-force the department can have 21 officers, an increase from the previous cap of 19.

At last month’s committee of the whole meeting, Village Manager Patrick Brennan reviewed the results of a recent police staffing study. It included a recommendation to add three new police officers.

Brennan — working with Deputy Police Chief Michael Hutensky, who is filling in for Chief William Lustig, currently on a voluntary leave of absence — suggested making a temporary full-time police officer permanent, while also adding another officer.

While the new officer was previously referred to as part-time, Brennan clarified at Tuesday’s meeting that the new hire will be a full-time officer.

Because the current fiscal year budget covered 20 police officers, Village Finance Director Kathleen Morley said the budget amendment was needed to add money for the additional hire.

The amendment will allocate $96,516 for the new officer for the remainder of Northfield’s fiscal year, which began in May. Morley and Brennan both said that number was based on the new officer being hired in August.

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