The Mount Gilead Police roster will see some changes in the coming weeks after council members approved a measure to make Officer Conger a full-time member of the department.
Previously Conger was a part-time officer but has now shifted to full-time duties following the resignation of Officer Benroth, who will be joining a Marion County law enforcement agency.
Benroth’s last day with MGPD will be March 5.
Additionally, Chief Brian Zerman informed Mount Gilead Council members that Officer Cronenwett will likely be out of active duty until the spring following a knee surgery.
“The best case scenario is that we can get him back in early April,” Zerman said. “It’s going to depend how soon they can get him in to do the surgery.”
He further stated the officer will not need additional training to successfully fill his new role.
Council members also unanimously approved a measure for the department to begin advertising for part-time officers.
The police chief also stated that the department has been notified of an issue with Ford Explorers, which the department uses as a patrol vehicle.
Both civilian and police operators of Explorers have reported that the vehicles are leaking carbon monoxide into the cab. The noxious gas has been blamed in at least one police officer’s crash.
“The information I got said that the problem is when the air conditioning is running carbon monoxide is leaking into the vehicle,” Zerman said. “There have been some crashes as a result of driver’s passing out and blacking out at the wheel.”
MGPD has not noticed any issues with their Explorer, but will use a carbon monoxide monitor as a precautionary measure.
