LORDSTOWN — Village officials plan to review the situation in the police department, which is short staffed to the point that officers are having to work overtime to cover shifts.

Police Chief Brent Milhoan told council members at Monday’s meeting that because of limited staffing and an officer being on sick leave there has been increased overtime for the department. He said there also is an officer using accumulated time as he nears retirement.

“The bulk of the overtime hours is for filling in shifts in the past months. The dispatchers have not been working overtime, but the officers have been. Many are having to drive around late at night after working during the day and not getting the sleep they need, which is a concern,” Milhoan said. “This is something that will need to be looked at and discussed in the near future. I do not see this being a temporary issue.”

Milhoan said the department has one chief, 10 full-time officers and three auxiliary part-time officers. He said the goal is to have two officers working daytime shift, three officers working afternoon shift and three working midnight shift.

Councilwoman Jessica Blank suggested beginning the process of advertising for additional officers.

Milhoan said that years ago, when the village advertised for officers there were as many as 70 applicants and now there are as few as seven.

“We are not drawing the people we used to draw. Law enforcement and fire departments have been facing a shortage of applicants. Everyone is pulling from everyone else. The number of people applying has been less and less,” Milhoan said.

He said the village offers respectable wages and benefits.

Milhoan said the process to get two additional officers would take two to three months with interviews and background checks.

He said there are officers who may leave for other departments or the county sheriff’s department. Milhoan said it is also hard to find part-time officers.

“Years ago we hired people and they stayed forever. Those days are gone,” Milhoan said.

He said if two full-time officers are hired, there would have to be sharing of vehicles.

Milhoan said with truck permits the department has been able to bring in between $50,000 and $60,000 annually with 437 permits issued in 2023 and nearly 500 issued so far this year,

Milhoan said the captain and police detective positions, which were previously separate, have been combined to one position.

Resident Danielle Watson said her husband is a police officer in Lordstown and plans to retire next summer.

She said other communities use part-time officers to help cut back on the overtime.