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Marshfield commission authorizes study of police restructure; chief to return with costs and timeline
Summary
The commission authorized the police chief to pursue a possible departmental reorganization that would combine some administrative positions, convert lead-officer posts to sergeants, and address succession and workload as a long-term staffing strategy; staff will work with HR, finance and the union and return with cost estimates.
The Marshfield Public Safety Commission voted to allow the police chief to pursue a possible reorganization of the Marshfield Police Departmentstructure and to return with a full cost and implementation plan.
The police chief described planned changes prompted by the impending retirement of a long-tenured administrative staff member (Laurie) and the desire to reduce overlaps between lead-officer and detective ranks. Proposed steps include combining the office coordinator and staff-services supervisor duties, converting lead-officer positions to sergeant rank for clarity and promotion pathways, and redistributing records duties among three record specialists; the chief said that combination may result in the loss of one full-time equivalent (FTE) and that the plan would be refined with HR, finance and union discussion.
"We need to level out rank and provide clearer vertical movement," the chief said, noting the department has shifted titles before (2017) and that some rank-and-pay discrepancies remain between detective and patrol positions. The chief asked for permission to gather detailed cost estimates, work with human resources and the union, and return with a finalized proposal for the commissions review.
Commissioners emphasized the need to analyze total cost, potential collective bargaining implications and staffing impacts (including any increased workload on record specialists). The chief proposed a target implementation date of Jan. 1, 2026, depending on HR, budget and contract outcomes.
The commission recorded a roll-call vote authorizing the chief to proceed with the study and to use staff and outside participants as needed; the motion passed. The chief will return with pay-grade recommendations, a precise cost estimate, and a staffing proposal that addresses continuity and any required bargaining steps.
