IRON MOUNTAIN — Iron Mountain has hired its first female police officer.

Theresa Carr started Monday and could eventually help lower overtime costs in the police department, which had been a city council concern, City Manager Jordan Stanchina told the council Monday.

The city offered a civil service exam for an entry-level officer Sept. 5 to develop a list of eligible applicants from which Carr was selected.

An entry level officer starts at $20.79 an hour and is bumped up to $23.18 an hour after the first year and $24.38 an hour after two years of service, Stanchina said.

The department had been down an officer since April, along with having another officer out on medical leave, resulting in $16,465 in overtime costs in September, Stanchina said.

Hiring Carr is timely, Stanchina added, since it looks like another officer will be out soon for surgery.

Until the department is back to full staffing, overtime costs will continue, he said.

The police department includes Ed Mattson, director of police and fire services, and Michael Papp, the deputy director of police service. The other 11 officers include a patrol lieutenant, two detective lieutenants, three patrol sergeants and five patrol officers. The department also has a dispatcher and clerk, both civilians.

Linda Lobeck can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 29, or llobeck@ironmountaindailynews.com.