The Vicksburg Police Department is preparing to hire part-time police officers to help deal with a manpower shortage in the department.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday approved a policy for hiring and paying the officers.

Police Chief Milton Moore said the department has been researching hiring part-time officers for some time. He said the department presently has 61 officers. It is budgeted for 81.

“These part-time officers can come in and help us work details, and we can use a full-time officer doing something other than working a detail,” he said.

Must be certified

Part-time officers holding full-time certification can work up to 25 hours a week. Officers holding a part-time certification can work up to 10 hours a week, Moore said.

Pay for a part-time officer $25 an hour.

Under the city’s policy, officers applying for the position must have either full or part-time state police officer standards and training certification, or they must pass a physical fitness agility test at a 50 percent efficiency level and complete an accredited part-time law enforcement officer’s training academy within two years of being hired.

Besides holding current certification, prospective part-time officers must also pass a background check, pass an interview with Moore, pass a drug screen, a physical examination, receive satisfactory psychological evaluation, and must qualify with a department-issue handgun and be immediately available for work.

“We are already taking applications,” Moore said, “And I’ve had some people call and ask about it.”