City to cover first responder training fees

  • Yoakum City Council approved complimentary training for first responders that stay with the City for three years last Tuesday. Photo by Hans Lammeman
    Yoakum City Council approved complimentary training for first responders that stay with the City for three years last Tuesday. Photo by Hans Lammeman

    In an attempt to attract entry-level first responders during a severe staffing shortage, the Yoakum City Council approved a policy to fund the training costs for new police and firefighters/EMTs last Tuesday.  

     

    In addition to covering the cost of training, the City will compensate the recruits while they complete training. City Manager Kevin Coleman said the policy aimed to keep new first responders in Yoakum for at least three years after training, relieving the employee of training costs equally each month for 36 months.

     

    “We (did already) have a policy in place that allowed the city and departments to individually come up with an agreement where the department outlays money for additional training…” said Coleman. “The high-level difference between that (policy) and this conversation is that it was always looked at by myself and the chiefs as a one-off deal… the difference now is to bake it into the system - if you will - to make it more of a rule than an exception.”

     

    During the meeting, Yoakum Police Chief Karl Van Slooten estimated the average cost of training for police, fire and EMS trainees at around $2,800 each without including compensation while they receive education. 

     

    Coleman said the policy change looked to attract aspiring first responders with paid training similar to practices used by other City departments.

     

    “Whether this fixes (current staffing issues) or not, I don’t know, but it’s another tool that we have in the toolbox,” said Coleman. “Outside of those two departments, we typically train in-house anyways.”

     

    Yoakum Fire/EMS Chief Mark Herchek said in a follow-up interview that the entry-level job market for first responders was the most competitive he had ever seen and hoped the complimentary training would effectively combat staffing shortages. He said only five of nine positions are filled under him at the Fire/EMS Station. 

     

    “We don’t know if this will (significantly combat the staffing shortage), but we have got to try something. We’re going to try it and see,” said Herchek, “We’re willing to hire, and we’re willing to send them to school to get their two certifications: their fire and EMT certifications.”