HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 08 25 Informational Item A
COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM A
REGULAR
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL X
Meeting
MGR il vIDEPT ~.
Authorization
August 18, 1997
TITLE: Police Department informing the Commission of a reorganization of the rank
structure to the Department.
PURPOSE: To provide information to the Commission regarding a realignment of the rank
structure of the Police Department.
CONSIDERATIONS: The present alignment of the rank structure within the Police Department
consists of positions for 2 Captains, 2 Patrol Lieutenants, and 8 Sergeants. This structure places
12 people in various positions and three levels of command under the Department Head.
However, due to recent actions and vacancies that have occurred in supervisory positions, there is
now one Lieutenant position and two Sergeant positions vacant. Since we currently staff only
seven Sergeants and one Lieutenant position, one option is to continue in this fashion by testing
and promoting two Sergeants and one Lieutenant from the lower ranks to fulfill the manning
document and continue with a multi-layered structure. Currently, there is no eligibility list
established for either the rank of Sergeant or Lieutenant. The total cost of conducting a
promotional process would require the expenditure of approximately $2,000 to $3,000.
ISSUE ANALYSIS :The organizational structure of the Police Department can be simplified
and stream-lined by abolishing the rank of Sergeant and moving the current seven Sergeants to
the rank of Lieutenant. The one existing Lieutenant will remain a Lieutenant to bring the total
number of Lieutenants to eight (8). Therefore, instead of eight (8) Sergeants and two (2) Patrol
Lieutenants (totaling ten members) the department will supervise personnel in eight (8)
components with a Lieutenant in each component answering directly to a Captain. This action
will eliminate the need to test and promote replacements, and will provide more personnel in the
operational ranks to patrol the streets where they are needed. Such an approach will immediately
flatten the organizational structure and improve communication within the agency.
The realignment of the Sergeants to Lieutenant status eliminates the unpredictable nature and
expense of overtime pay for these positions. As part of management, Lieutenants are exempt
employees and therefore not eligible for overtime. The current Sergeants, once promoted to
Lieutenants, will not loose money because they will be elevated in salary. However, future
budget preparation can be calculated more accurately without having to project anticipated
overtime for Sergeants. In addition, reducing the number of supervisory and upper management
personnel from ten (l0) to eight (8) provides a savings monetarily. Those positions will be
replaced by two (2) entry level officers at starting salary.
RECOMMENDA TION: Abolish the rank of Sergeant and reclassify those positions at the
rank of Lieutenant.
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: Concurrent with the start of Fiscal Year 1997-1998 on
October 1, 1997.
ATTACHMENTS: Organizational Chart
COMMISSION ACTION:
WINTER SPRINGS POLICE
DEPARTMENT
I CHIEF OF POLICE I
I
I I I
(1) LIEUTENANT CAPTAIN CAPT AIN
INTERNAL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS
BUREAU BUREAU
I I
I I I I
(1) LIEUTENANT (1) LIEUTENANT PATROL DIVISION (1) LIEUTENANT
PROFESSION At STANDARDS SUPPORT SERVICES (4) LIEUTENANTS INVESTIG ATIONS
DMSION DIVISION A SHIFT, B SHIFT DMSION
C SHIFf, D SHIFT