The Garnett Police Department is struggling to keep fully staffed. This comes after a compensation package in 2019 that led to salary increases and benefit increases. Garnett Police Chief, Curt King, says there are a lot of openings statewide that offer better compensation; but, money isn’t the only thing keeping people away. He says the general climate in the political world right now is threatening to police officers. He says one issue is losing qualified immunity, which gives police and other public officials, some protection against Civil lawsuits in the conduct of their job. The department is down three officers at the moment.
Garnett Commissioners approved a $65,000 annual increase in police compensation in 2019 to boost pay and introduced a better insurance plan. The Anderson County Sheriff’s office followed that lead a few months later.
