The Selma City Council accepted a letter Thursday from patrol officers outlining concerns they have about the department.

The letter was dated Aug. 15, while Mayor George Evans responded in writing Friday.

Not all council members voted to accept the letter. Councilman Greg Bjelke voted against accepting the letter, saying he didn’t agree with everything in it. B.L. Tucker also voted against accepting the letter.

Council President Corey Bowie said he thought the letter should be addressed during a public safety committee meeting next Wednesday.

Other council members voted to accept the letter, but some added they didn’t necessarily agree with all of its contents.

“The motion is we will move forward to accepting (the letter) and move forward to solving to addressing issues,” Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said.

Efforts to obtain a copy of the letter officers and their attorney Vonda K. Bonham sent City Hall were unsuccessful Friday.

Some of the issues outlined in the letter include expired bulletproof vests, lack of SWAT equipment, maintenance of departmental vehicles, an alleged hostile work environment, alleged unfair hiring and promotional practices, how overtime is calculated and promised salary increases from the half-cent sales tax.

In his response, Evans addressed each of those concerns.

He said grant money would be used to purchase new body armor next year, and additional special reaction team equipment has been ordered.

Evans also said he has not heard of any accusations of a hostile work environment until last week.

“Chief has already had an open door policy and strongly encourages communication between the officers and him. I will continue to look into this claim, and if there is any validity to the claim then it will be immediately addressed and appropriately handled by my office,” Evans wrote in his response.

As far as salary, Evans said the half-cent sales tax had been used to provide one-time raises to all city employees around the holidays for the past three years.

Those annual bonuses have cost the city about $400,000 each year.

Evans also wrote the department had paid officers more than $500,000 in overtime from the half-cent tax increase.

“I am committed to giving the officers a permanent raise, and it will occur during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. However, we must ensure that we are able to sustain the salary increase each year thereafter along with the increase in overtime as a direct result of the salary increase,” Evans wrote.

Officers started calling in sick last Thursday after presenting an unsigned letter to the Selma City

Council demanding immediate raises and a meeting with Evans and the council.

The sickout continued through the weekend, though officers started reporting back to work Monday.

By Thursday, most officers were back to their regular shifts.