CLAYTON, MO (KMOX) - St. Louis County Police have put out the call to over 100 retired officers, asking if they'd be willing to come back to work if necessary due to coronavirus.
Former Chief and current councilman Tim Fitch is one of the recipients of that email, and is one who is answering in the affirmative. Fitch tells KMOX the retirees would mostly take over administrative jobs.
"It would allow the police department to take the current officers who are in those administrative roles, push them out to the streets, if that's where they're needed, and then backfill them with the retirees doing those duties," Fitch says.
However, Fitch says, if there is a shortage of officers on the streets, some could wind up back in that role.
The retirees who are still firearms qualified would be paid $25 an hour, those who aren't would get $20 as "intermittent employees."
Under state statute, departments can grant powers to retired officers, if there is a state or national emergency declaration.
Fitch says it's good planning, but hopefully something we won't need.