MARS — New part-time police officer Christian Renaud was sworn in by Mayor Gregg Hartung amid much-discussed police and EMS shortages at a council meeting on Monday, Aug. 7.

Renaud was highly recommended as a candidate for the Mars Borough Police Department, said council president Mike Fleming.

“A former employee described him as the last Boy Scout,” police chief Mark Lint said. “She said he’d likely be the person who would walk the old lady across the street with a smile. I think he’ll be a great fit for Mars. I think maybe we need people who are very personable and efficient.”

Renaud’s recruitment comes as the borough department and other departments, local and national, struggle to fill their ranks.

Part-time positions are getting hit the hardest, Lint said. In Mars, the staffing shortage has led to gaps in coverage for some events, such as football games. While the department struggles to find qualified candidates and grapples with the reality of officers going out of state and leaving the profession altogether, Mars’ police department cannot afford to compete with other departments offering better event rates and incentives, Lint said.

He added that he didn’t know long the department could sustain part-time positions.

“It’s not like 1995 where people kill themselves to get a job part time, 39 hours a week, no benefits, $10 an hour,” Lint said. In keeping with the rate of inflation, $10 an hour in 1995 would amount to approximately $20 today. Part-time officers today with the borough police department are paid approximately $22 an hour, council members said after the meeting.

“Nowadays, I think to keep someone, you have to give value,” Lint said. “Get someone who’s quality, they’re working well, you try to keep them ... because retention is going to be an issue.”

The police shortage issue came up as council members discussed how to cover a M.A.R.S. Youth Football game on Aug. 19.

After deliberating whether public works employees, volunteers, fire police or other township police officers could help with traffic control and parking, council made a motion to approve sheriff’s deputies to work the football game in light of the lack of police staffing that day.

“I would rather have peace of mind that there’s somebody who can handle a conflict than, you know, for someone that shouldn’t be involved in a conflict,” Fleming said.

Council proposed that deputies work the event for $65 an hour for eight hours of service. Had they been available, Mars police officers would have been paid $55 an hour for the event.

Fleming said that a new rate may be up for consideration when council members discuss next year’s budget.

“I’m not giving up on hiring more officers,” Lint said.

Full-time Sgt. Brian Novosel will participate in FBI Basic Crisis Negotiation training covered by the Butler County Emergency Services Unit in October at no cost to the borough. Council approved the training Monday evening.

Lint said the 40 hours of negotiation and de-escalation training will be valuable.

“There’s a lot of talk about de-escalation and crisis intervention to reduce the liability for the police department,” Lint said. “His training would actually help (Novosel) in the streets.”

The county has 30 emergency service unit team members, including medics, snipers and hostage negotiators, Lint said.

Council also discussed potentially implementing an EMS tax that would help address the rising costs and shortages of Quality EMS, the borough’s emergency medical service provider. Earlier this year, Quality EMS was recognized by the American Heart Association and awarded Silver status. The borough does not have an EMS tax.