Timnath council approves adding police captain role, authorizes immediate recruitment

The Timnath Town Council unanimously approved a change to public-safety budgeted personnel to reclassify a vacant lieutenant position as a captain and authorized immediate recruitment.

Police Chief Scott said the department budgeted a lieutenant position in 2025 but the vacancy has been open for about eight months. The chief recommended reclassification to captain to provide higher-level supervision, operational relief during critical incidents and an improved chain of command as the department grows.

Chief Scott said the change can be funded with vacancy savings and would support leadership development and internal promotions. He told the council he met individually with department members and found a desire for more supervisory capacity; he also plans to preserve a lieutenant position in the department structure for future growth.

Council members asked whether the town would recruit internally or seek candidates from other agencies. Chief Scott said he expects to seek qualified candidates with a mix of experience and that internal promotion opportunities would be preserved; he said he did not believe the department currently had an internal candidate fully qualified for the captain role. The chief said filling two vacant sergeant posts is also a priority.

Councilor remarks at the meeting emphasized support for strengthening supervision and creating promotion pathways to retain officers. A clerical correction to the resolution title was handled as a friendly amendment to replace a typographical reference to a "communications" position with "captain." The amended resolution approving the addition of a captain position passed unanimously.

The council’s action is recorded in resolution 57, series 2025; staff will begin recruitment and report back on hiring and budget impacts in future personnel budgeting cycles.