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84. <br />Police Interviews - William A. Gillespie <br />Page 5 <br />Mr. Gillespie said in the squad car you do not have political <br />problems, only blue suits. <br />City Administrator Schumacher said that as long as Mr. Gillespie <br />had been in the community for a good length of time how did he <br />intend to deal with major issues in the Police Department. <br />Mr. Gillespie said he would provide additional training. With the <br />continued growth maybe the manpower should be increased to match <br />the community needs. The national average is one officer/2.2 <br />thousand. Routine patrols accomplish almost nothing. Resources <br />are important to do Community Based Policing. This is expensive <br />and involves citizen contact - officers getting out of squads and <br />empowering the officer in endangering situations. This means <br />investing money and authority into an officer and comes from lots <br />of money for training. The question is that it does provide <br />structure and makes the community feel safer. He would advise to <br />train the officers elsewhere and he would provide continued inhouse <br />service and training. <br />City Administrator Schumacher asked Mr. Gillespie what he felt was <br />his weakest trait. <br />Mr. Gillespie said he felt it was to not recognize the difference <br />between a problem and a fact. By nature he is a nurturer and wants <br />to help even though sometimes people want to do it themselves. <br />City Administrator Schumacher asked Mr. Gillespie about his <br />involvement in the Minnesota Peace Officers Association. <br />Mr. Gillespie said that the activity included how to conduct <br />yourself, and to treat everybody professionally, honestly <br />and truthfully. <br />Mr. Schumacher asked Mr. Gillespie his handicap in golf. Mr. <br />Gillespie said it was four. <br />Council Member Kuether said that we had nine police officers in 36 <br />square miles and asked Mr. Gillespie the national average. <br />Mr. Gillespie said that the numbers differ and he would work with <br />Mr. Schumacher and the money involved. The most important factor <br />is citizen and officer safety - but do not ignore the numbers, they <br />were arrived at with reality. <br />Mayor Reinert asked Mr. Gillespie how he felt about auxiliary <br />policing. <br />Mr. Gillespie said it is a state law that volunteers cannot be <br />armed and they must have a clear understanding of their duties. <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />