Belleville Police Department hires new officers. Are there more to come?

The Belleville Police Department has started the expansion of its officer roster, which was promised after the city came to terms with the Fraternal Order of Police on a new collective bargaining agreement in January.

Eight new officers have been hired, including three experienced officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The other five new hires are currently attending the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy.

The lateral hires — those joining the Belleville Police with the same rank they had in St. Louis — are currently in field training and could be on the streets by July, said Belleville Police Capt. Mark Heffernan. The SWIC Academy recruits will likely start by December.

The additions will expand the department’s roster of sworn officers from 64 to 72. Belleville Police Chief Bill Clay told the BND in February the eventual goal is a 78- or 80-officer force.

The new officers include:

• Officer Taran Barber, a lateral entry hire from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department;
• Officer Wilfredo Marquez, a lateral hire from St. Louis;
• Officer Shane Marti, a lateral entry hire from St. Louis;
• Officer Cassidy Fruend, currently attending the SWIC Police Academy;
• Officer Austin Becker, currently attending SWIC;
• Officer Reynaldo Mendiola, currently attending SWIC;
• Officer David Markus, currently attending SWIC; and
• Officer Bradley Nichols, currently attending SWIC.

Heffernan said the Belleville Police made itself more attractive to recruits with the city’s more recent collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, the officers union.

The successful effort to add the eight new positions, Heffernan said, “is a result of collaboration between the department administration and the officers’ and sergeants’ union (FOP Lodge 226) to address systemic issues within the department to make our agency more attractive to potential recruits.”

Chief Bill Clay called the new police union contract for his officers “transformational.”

The 55-page contract includes a 28% jump in starting salary for officers and a series of pay raises over an eight-year period; loosens the residency requirements to let people live 45 miles away from the city to include candidates from Missouri; and asks senior officers to work overtime duties so younger officers don’t have to handle all of it.

The new starting pay for a Belleville police officer on the night shift is $71,270, which went into effect on May 1, according to the new union contract.

Heffernan said the department credits Mayor Patty Gregory and the Belleville City Council for backing the new contract and supporting the financial investment in additional officers.

“The hiring of these new officers is a direct result of the support of the Mayor and City Council,” Heffernan said.

The department is still seeking experienced officers who are interested in the lateral entry process. Anyone interested can call Heffernan at 618-355-9772.

This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 2:42 PM.