Terrace Park appoints retired Springdale chief Thomas Wells as auxiliary police officer

The Village of Terrace Park council voted to appoint Thomas Wells as an auxiliary police officer for the Terrace Park Police Department. Councilors described the appointment as a low-cost way to add experienced support: Jerry Hayhoe, the police chief administrator, said Wells is retired from Springdale where he served as chief and "has 33 years of experience." Hayhoe described Wells' role as advisory and training-focused and said, "He won't be patrolling."

Wells was presented as a volunteer-like resource who will be sworn in with his family present at the next council meeting. The resolution was introduced, seconded, and adopted as an emergency. Council members repeated that the appointment brings experience at effectively no cost — described in the meeting as "a dollar a year" — and that Wells will assist local officers with training, mental-health-related response guidance and interagency coordination.

The council did not specify any salary or ongoing compensation beyond the token dollar and emphasized Wells' role is consultative rather than an active patrol assignment.