Griffen Smith
Missoulian, Mont.
(TNS)
Jul. 18—Missoula city police officers and firefighters could soon live as far as 60 minutes from the city limits, an expansion of a local 45-minute law that the police chief hopes will aid recruiting and retention efforts.
Missoula Police Chief Mike Colyer told city council on Wednesday that the new policy would allow police and firefighters to consider more land purchasing options that are cheaper or offer a more rural lifestyle.
Additionally, both departments could approve a “reasonable exception” for an employee to live farther away.
“I don’t think this is a silver bullet that will change all of our issues, but if this amendment will help us pick up a qualified person here or there, or retain a qualified person we have already hired to continue with his or her career, I think it’s well worth it,” Colyer said.
Of the 118 sworn MPD officers, Colyer said 69 live within the city limits. Roughly 25 live within 15 minutes of the city limits and another 20 are within 15 to 45 minutes of Missoula.
Colyer said there is also one MPD officer who lives in Polson, about an hour and 15 minutes away.
Some law enforcement agencies in Montana, including Kalispell, Bozeman and Billings, have ended residency requirements. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office also does not have a residency requirement.
Helena and Great Falls still have some sort of residency requirement.
Colyer said the state requires police or firefighters to live in Montana, but the remaining requirements are up to interpretation.
He said the city would also look at several subjective factors for an exception, like whether that person lives near a main road toward Missoula, whether there is a mountain pass in the way or the employee’s position.
“We work in this world of dealing through reasonableness a lot, so there will be a number of miscellaneous considerations,” Colyer said.
He said the change should have no effect to law enforcement response with the addition of technology that makes people more available and upgrades on storage lockers at MPD’s Catlin Street building.
Missoula Fire Chief Grody Hughes was not present at the Wednesday meeting, but the policy also applies to the fire department.
The council committee unanimously approved the change. The new law will move onto the council’s consent agenda for a final vote Aug. 12 during the council’s Monday night meeting.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
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