The South Hutchinson Police Department has started a GoFundMe page to assist two officers and a records clerk whose jobs will be eliminated Sept. 5 as part of budget cuts imposed by the South Hutchinson City Council last week.
Officers Matt Gabrielson and Keith Zerger, and records clerk Jaime Hedger will have little time to prepare for the layoff, said Police Chief Mark Thompson.
He’s hoping to raise at least $2,000 for each employee to help with health insurance or other bills they might face before being able to find new jobs. He based the amount sought on estimated COBRA insurance costs for their families.
“These individuals faithfully served to protect the citizens of South Hutchinson, and now they need our help,” Thompson stated on the page, found at https://www.gofundme.com/south-hutchinson-police-officers?member=618732. “Please help us raise funds to assist them during this sudden transition.”
The fund had about $1,100 raised as of Tuesday afternoon. Any unused funds, Thompson said, would be donated to Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Meanwhile, Thompson said, he’ll be sitting down with his leadership on the department this week to figure how to adjust schedules to compensate for the 25 percent cut in officers while taking on tasks of the clerk.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)