Officer Ben Hicks has resigned from the Gillett Police Department to accept a position with the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department. The Gillett City Council on Thursday accepted his resignation, which took effect Dec. 31.
The city plans to promote one of its three part-time officers to fill the position. Interviews are scheduled Jan. 16, with an applicant expected to be approved at the Feb. 6 council meeting.
In his Dec. 20 letter of resignation, Hicks said it was bittersweet to resign. The Gillett native thanked the City Council members for their trust and for “their continued efforts in making this department as strong as it can be.”
Police Chief Jess Keplinger said Hicks was instrumental in updating the technology and equipment of the department. He also served as a field training officer, teaching new employees patrol techniques and department policies and procedures.
“He provided quality service to the city and the department. He will be greatly missed,” Keplinger said.
Hicks was promoted from part-time to full-time officer in October 2010 after the city received a grant to create a full-time position for three years, with the condition the fourth year be paid by the city. The 2014 budget included $61,000 for the position, and several residents at a November budget hearing spoke in favor of maintaining police coverage at its current level.
Four full-time and three part-time officers provide 24-hour coverage six days a week and 20-hour coverage for the seventh.
Mayor Irene Drake said funding for the fourth full-time position is uncertain for 2015.
“We’ll just have to look at it at budget time,” she said.
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