By Marilyn Miller

Less than a month in office, and the new chief of police for the Village of Dixie Inn is already proving his worth. In dollars and sense, that is.

First, Chief Jeff McNeill recommended $18.00-an-hour for part-time police officers, a proposal that was put before the Board of Alderman during the regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Before the vote was taken, alderman Judy McKenzie stated that she had done some research, showing the average pay for a part-time police officer in the Shreveport-Bossier area was $26.00-an-hour, and in Florida, it was $29.00-an-hour.

“I’m leaning toward $22.00,” McKenzie said. “Officers are doing the same things no matter where they are, and in a small town, even more sometimes. I calculate they should make $22.00.”

“That’s more than the chief’s making,” Mayor Donna Hoffoss said.

Chief McNeill came to the rescue, humorously stating that regardless of his own salary, “$22.00- an-hour is overkill in my opinion.” He ticked off a list of what some area law enforcement departments are paying over-time officers, which revealed that “already we are paying more than other departments.”

Alderman Lance Milligan then made a motion to set the pay for an over-time police officer at $18-an-hour. The motion passed unanimously.

On his second mission to save money, Chief McNeill informed the board that lightning struck the server handling body cameras and dash cameras. The equipment was not replaceable or repairable. So, he took quotes, but only for body cameras.

“State law does not require me to have dash cameras,” he told the board, “Only body cameras.” And where he previously worked, they only used body cameras. After giving the aldermen the quotes (for four cameras), he further stated that he would “rather have the body cameras,” and that he would recommend Motorola, with a five-year warranty.

“This is just more cost efficient for a small town, and the body camera sees everything you see,” he concluded. The motion to go with the Motorola quote passed unanimously.

In other police business, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Michael Dickey as the first part-time police officer. Officer Dickey has worked three years for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office. The board also tabled a motion to approve a quote for two VP5430 Portable Radios.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Mayor Hoffoss that she has submitted the Water Rate Study (as of Aug. 26);
• Opted in to allow for expedited temporary housing assistance through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.