Fairfield council extends bereavement to police, dispatchers after chief’s passing

FAIRFIELD – Fairfield City Administrator Doug Reinert encouraged the City Council to grant bereavement days to the city’s police officers and dispatchers in the wake of the passing of Police Chief David Thomas on Jan. 13.

Reinert told the council at its meeting Jan. 26 that, in light of the time Thomas spent with his co-workers and how close he was with them, he felt it was appropriate that they be given two bereavement days to use by the end of February.

“This is an opportunity for these individuals to take some time off away from the organization and talk to someone while processing their grief,” he said.

Mayor pro tem Paul Gandy asked Reinert if the council needed to take any action, and also asked if this allowance for bereavement was already granted to these departments. Reinert explained that the city’s bereavement policy applies to immediate family of the deceased, and in this case he was asking for it to extend to co-workers. Council members unanimously agreed that Reinert’s request was appropriate.

Thomas was a mainstay at the council meetings, always sitting at a table between the council members and audience. Monday’s meeting was the first since his passing, and his chair was adorned with a bouquet of flowers and his uniform vest. The meeting ended with a moment of silence to honor Thomas.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com