Battle Ground Police Chief Dennis Flynn told city council members Tuesday, June 3, that the department’s current staffing model is unsustainable. Though he would prefer five, three officers could improve service by eliminating costly “Kelly Days.”
Flynn pointed to data showing BGPD earned over 3,100 “Kelly Hours” in 2024, equal to more than one full patrol officer’s work year. These hours are time off accrued by contract for working 12-hour shifts. With current staffing levels, used Kelly Days often require officers to work overtime.
“Almost 50% of those cops are working their own Kelly Day,” Flynn said. “So a day that they’re supposed to be resting, they’re coming in and working and making time and a half for (a shift) that they vacated.”
That practice has driven up the department’s overtime budget. In 2024, the department spent more than $17,000 in overtime costs to backfill Kelly Days. In just the first four months of 2025, it has already spent $9,000, putting the city on pace for a 66% increase year-over-year, according to Flynn.
To address the issue, Flynn proposed shifting from 12-hour to 11-hour shifts — ending Kelly Days entirely, while adding three new patrol officers. This would not only cut overtime but increase officer presence during peak call times.
“I’ll have enough cops to not only put out there for calls for service but (also) answering what the citizens are saying that ‘I want more enforcement right now,’” Flynn said. “I just don’t have it. I’d like to be able to give everybody the attention they are asking for. I just don’t have the bodies.”
The proposed schedule reconfiguration would significantly boost staffing during high-demand hours. At its highest point, 4 p.m., the model would allow for eight officers on duty, including the only overlap of two sergeants in a day.
Flynn said the one downside of the plan is the loss of sergeant coverage between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
“I can go that three-hour window with calling somebody in,” he said. “I’m willing to trade you.”
The added overlap time at 4 p.m. also allows supervisors to communicate and debrief between shifts, an opportunity Flynn said doesn’t currently exist.
“Right now ... 6 p.m., boom, and everybody’s gone,” Flynn said. “There’s no chance to say, ‘let me tell you about the problem that we’re having over here.’ We don’t have that because we’re running skeleton.”
Flynn acknowledged that officers are not thrilled about losing the extra time off but said the new schedule would create flexible options for some officers.
“I’m trying to give you options,” Flynn said. “Yes, I get it. You all want 15 extra days off ... (but) I’m also offering you an opportunity to work a schedule that might be much more conducive to your family life.”
Council members generally responded positively to the presentation, which Flynn emphasized was data-driven and built off resident feedback from the city’s community survey.
“This is the first time in ... 15 years now that I have seen any numbers come out of PD,” Councilor Shane Bowman said. “This actually is a plan.”
“Well I hate to be the negative (one) in the room, but what’s this cost?” Battle Ground Mayor Troy McCoy asked.
“Too much,” Finance Director Meagan Lowery responded bluntly.
Lowery clarified the city cannot afford three new patrol officers alongside other major capital projects without a new revenue stream. To fund the new positions, city staff floated the option of a 0.1% “councilmatic” — meaning voter approval is not necessary — sales tax increase under a new state law. If passed by the council before June 2028, the city would receive 100% of the revenue. Based on last year’s numbers, that could generate roughly under $650,000 annually, enough to cover three patrol officers.
However, this funding method has several hurdles. Under the law, the city cannot start a councilmatic vote for hiring officers before July. Furthermore, should a vote to the people anywhere in Clark County return a majority “no” vote under this state law, Battle Ground would be unable to enact a councilmatic vote.
“It doesn’t matter if Vancouver does it, so if Clark County does it or we do it and the vote is no in the next two years, you do not qualify to do that councilmatically,” Lowery explained.
The sales tax option drew general interest from a majority of the council, though no formal decision was made.
“It gives you a revenue stream that will continue to grow because if our businesses are continuing to grow, we’ll have a revenue stream and that’s what we’re always looking for,” Overholser said.
Council members Victoria Ferrer and Eric Overholser expressed openness to the option despite their reluctance toward tax increases. Ferrer noted her support due to all revenue going directly to the city, while Overholser indicated a preference for sales tax over property taxes.
“I think ultimately, too, when people (say) they want the hometown feel, part of the hometown feel is ... feeling safe, feeling like you’ve got people who come and surround you in a short period of time,” council member Jeanie Kuypers added.
