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Police propose rank restructure; say staffing levels can hold for now
Summary
Danville police leaders presented a personnel reorganization, equipment and fleet needs and said they expect to sustain current staffing (39 authorized officers) for the coming year while requesting rank changes rather than additional patrol hires.
Chief Gray and Assistant Chief Doan briefed the Danville City Commission on department call volumes, staffing and near-term budget priorities, recommending an internal reorganization that creates a second assistant chief and a patrol captain but does not add sworn headcount for the coming year.
Assistant Chief Doan said the department is “allotted 39 full time officers” and is currently at 38; he told commissioners that if the city can sustain that 39-person staffing level the department does not plan to ask for an additional officer this year. “We want to focus on some of those internal changes,” Doan said, describing promotions and reassignments that would convert existing slots to new supervisory posts rather than create many new positions.
Doan outlined proposed rank changes that would add one assistant chief to oversee daily dispatch operations, add one patrol captain, and create a stand‑alone code/parking enforcement position. He characterized most moves as promotions and internal backfills rather than net new positions and said the “real net” additions would be one patrol captain and one assistant chief.
The department reported workload numbers for 2024: “over 16,000” police events (traffic stops, calls for service and similar entries) and an average of about “1,300 events per month.” Doan listed specific caseload counts from last year including “over 2,400 citations,” roughly “almost 500 domestics,” and about “1,164” collisions.
Equipment and recurring costs were also raised. Doan said the department will seek six new policing vehicles this budget cycle and expects bundle costs (vehicle equipment and camera systems) that could total about $80,000 per vehicle. Doan identified the WatchGuard camera program and recurring technology fees as a continuing budget pressure.
On school-resource officers, commissioners and staff discussed contract relationships with school districts and other entities; Doan confirmed most SROs work the school year and noted SRO presence can allow immediate response to incidents on campus. The presentation did not include a formal motion or vote; staff said those rank‑structure proposals and any personnel cost impacts would be incorporated into the city’s personnel-budget review.
Ending: The police department stressed that reorganizing supervisory ranks is the priority this year, while equipment and fleet replacement will remain recurring budget items to be addressed in the broader personnel and capital budget process.
