Bertram wrestles with police staffing issues in wake of chief controversy

By Nathan Hendrix
Staff Writer

Security and safety for Bertram city employees and residents — through improvements at City Hall and through police staffing — were among the top things discussed at the Tuesday, April 9, Bertram City Council meeting.

Bertram will seek bids on security measures and improvements to city hall and the municipal court as part of the court security committee's recommendations presented to the council at the meeting. And Bertram Police Chief Leslie Kyle told council members the department is in the process of hiring new officers to help get the department to 24/7 staffing. . . .

Kyle said the department does not provide its own 24-hour coverage to the city. An intergovernmental agreement with the BCSO fills the gaps of coverage in the city.

Kyle said his goal is to “provide structure” to the department after destabilizing controversies with former police chiefs.

“I got my new chief's audit as soon as I came in the door,” Kyle said. “There's a lot that needed to be fixed.”

He said the department is prepared to hire one applicant, and they are reviewing a number of other applications.

“Hopefully by the end of the month we'll have a full staff and five reserves,” he said. “There will be no more part-time officers; they'll all be full-time. It'll be easier on scheduling and having officers in the street.”

He said the five reserves will assist during big events or other situations that take full-time officers away from duty. . . .

Find more on the Bertram City Council meeting in the Friday April 12 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for The Highland Lakes. To offer a comment or news tip, email nathan@highlandernews.com.