Gibson: ‘Tax rededication vote vital’

Despite the fact that he will be sworn in as Acadia Parish Sheriff on July 1, Crowley Chief of Police has no intention of slowing the fight for the department and the officers he has been working with for over a decade.
And, aside from fighting the crime on Crowley’s streets, Gibson’s main concern is getting his officers a salary that will be competitive with other departments.
Crowley has had 10 officers over the past year leave for higher-paying jobs.
“Who am I to blame them,” said Gibson, who would not be receiving a raise as part of the proposition. “They have to help support their families and right now we just can’t pay them what other departments are able to.”
However, he is hoping that a proposition that can change that will be approved by voters this weekend.
“Many years ago, a half-cent sales tax was adopted to support police, fire and other city employees,” said Gibson. “With the high rate of turnover that the police department has experienced due to the starting pay of other agencies, the police portion of this fund continues to grow. However, our city government has not been able to use this fund as needed because the city’s general fund is unable to cover the cost of the benefits.”
If adopted, funds from the existing tax could be used for benefits as well as for salaries.
The proposition, Gibson emphasizes, is not a new tax but simply a way of reallocating the way the money from the existing tax is distributed.
“It’s frustrating to get these guys trained by the Crowley Police Department and then seeing them having to move on so quickly,” he said. “It’s would also be beneficial for Crowley’s taxpayers because each officer we train, it costs them money. And it goes without saying that we need experienced officers out there.”
Gibson pointed out that a starting officer in Duson makes more than a captain at the Crowley Police Department.
“With the approval of this rededication, we will be able to be able to increase the pay of our starting officers and retain them rather than training them for other agencies,” he said. “There will be no cost to our citizens, but many benefits in keeping our experienced officers in Crowley.”