Are we on the right path as a city? What are your thoughts as the reader? Be sure to follow Muscogee Muckraker on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see our upcoming stories as they break throughout the coming week.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Officers of the Columbus Police Department could be seeing a pay raise in the near future along with an increase in the overall morale of the force, thanks to a clever approach to retention by Interim Chief Stoney Mathis.

Though Mathis has only been leading the department for a few short months, his initiative and common-sense approach to leadership has already earned him a proven track record for improving both the atmosphere and culture within CPD.

Now, Mathis has delivered a solid vision to city officials for how we can keep that momentum rolling forward — and it all comes down to what martial leadership is all about: listening to what troops need, finding realistically-effective ways to get it to them, and empowering them to employ it well.

Given the short time frame Mathis has been the city’s top cop, it’s pretty clear he’s more than familiar with these sentiments.

Here’s a look at how Mathis sees our city crushing crime by flexing the department’s greatest strength: its people.

RETENTION

It’s no secret: CPD has suffered some pretty gnarly turnover in its retention rates throughout years past. For example: according to city records, the department had previously lost more than twice the number hired in 2021.

Not anymore.

After talking with officers and  comparing their words to other departments throughout the region, Mathis found that officers here in Columbus hadn’t been compensated for overtime the same as others in the state had — and to make matters worse, no one had listened to them before when they pointed this out.

As a result of past leadership never bothering to fix the issue, officers left for greener pastures in departments elsewhere.

Mathis, on his own accord, immediately put together a plan to fix it. No one had to tell him to do it. No one had to demand a presentation. He simply saw an opportunity to fix a problem, came up with a suggested solution, and presented it to council.

His plan, by the way,  is a fairly clever one that involves something seldom seen in government: common sense.

THINK DIFFERENTLY

“If we keep doing business like we have been doing business,” Mathis said to council, “we will never gain any police officers year after year. We have to think differently.”

The Columbus Police Department is currently budgeted for 444 sworn officers, with cash set aside each year to pay each of those salaries and their associated benefits.

While that unused cash sits idly by, Mathis says only about 90% of those positions could realistically be expected to be filled at the moment. As a result, about $2.5 million effectively sits on stand-by instead of being put to use to pay actual cops a competitive salary.

Mathis wants to change that through a clever win-win solution.

By getting rid of the excessive vacant positions, Mathis can use the salary savings to pay cops more instead — and frankly, that’s a pretty good idea.

To do that, Mathis wants to reduce the number of sworn officers to a total of 400, which would free up the $2.5 million in unused salary funding each year. 

That sum would be divided up to pay each CPD employee — all 400 sworn officers and 60 civilian employees — another $5,000 annually.

That pay increase, according to Mathis’ extensively-detailed presentation, would make up for the officers’ overtime problem while also creating one of the most competitive salaries for police officers in the region — and he’s right.

We highly encourage you as the reader to watch Mathis’ presentation in-full through the city’s CCG-TV YouTube channel.

Perhaps readers and officials alike will arrive at the same thought we did here at the Muckraker:

Why hasn’t this already been implemented yesterday, and what are we waiting for?

We look forward to watching our city’s police force continue to grow, and we can’t thank our officers enough for what they do for our city every day. 

Want to be a part of it? Do you have what it takes to help build one of the best police departments in the country, with some of the most experienced senior officers in the field leading the way?

Check out ProtectColumbus.ColumbusGA.gov to learn how.

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

-30-

© 2023 Muscogee Muckraker. All rights reserved.

Be sure to follow Muscogee Muckraker on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see all the muck that’s fit to print as it breaks throughout the coming week.

There has never been a better time to be a Columbus Police Officer! The Columbus Police Department is a state and nationally accredited law enforcement agency dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Columbus, Georgia. Become part of a highly trained law enforcement team focused on building and maintaining strong community partnerships that improve the safety and quality of life for every citizen. Join today and protect the promise of a better tomorrow.ProtectColumbus.ColumbusGa.gov