Title of the Command Position Created by a Recent Resignation Within the Police Department

At the regular Council Meeting on April 23, 2013, Council directed staff to to begin the process for filling the Police Captain position created by the resignation of Captain Dwyer. The process to fill the command position is currently underway. One item that was not covered at the April 23 meeting was the title of the position to be replaced.

At the time of Captain Dwyer's resignation, the police department had been functioning with two Captains. One of the Captains oversaw the Support Services Area of the department. This area includes the two investigators, a Crime Prevention Specialist, a Community Service Officer, the Office Supervisor and three Police Technicians. The second Captain oversaw the patrol area of the department. This includes the four patrol sergeants and 13 patrol officers. The 15 Reserves and 10 Explores also fall under this area.

Attached to this case is the current Police organizational chart.

The police department has been functioning very well under the current format of two Captains. It was very clear who reported to whom and who supervised whom within the department.

An alternative to the current structure would be one Captain and one Lieutenant. The Lieutenant would then report to the Captain who would then report to the Chief. The pro's of this structure would be be a slight savings to the City in wages. The con of this structure is that there is not currently a pay structure for a Lieutenant and there is not any space in the current pay structure to add this position.  Additionally, this format creates a lineal structure rather than a compound structure in the organization.

Staff recommends keeping the current command structure that was in place at the time of the Police Captain resignation. The current structure allows the Captains to be trained in both command areas and for a seamless transition to each duty. It would continue with the compound command structure with easy identifiable supervisors of the department.

Position was budgeted for and a savings will occur because the new commander, whether it is a Captain or Lieutenant, will not be at top of the wage scale. All Sergeants are at the Step 6 or top of the wage scale for that position. They would start at the Step 4 of the Captains position. Attached to this case is the current pay scale for Sergeant and Captain position.

Consensus on title for command position. 

Action to be place on May 28 Regular Council Agenda