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Village Board approves expanded organizational study for Northbrook Police Department
Summary
After discussion about scope and cost, the Village Board approved a contract for an organizational and staffing study for the Northbrook Police Department to update staffing and zoning analyses that were last completed decades ago; the study is intended to inform police facility planning and staffing decisions.
The Village Board voted to approve an outside organizational and staffing study for the Northbrook Police Department during its Aug. 12 meeting, authorizing the manager to proceed with a contract to evaluate staffing levels, zoning-related incident analysis and optimal deployment.
Chief Husted told the board the department’s staffing model has not materially changed since the late 1970s and that recent vendor proposals included additional scope to analyze whether policing zones, incident patterns and population density require different staffing or deployment than currently in place. The chief said that expanded scope and extra deliverables increased the overall proposal cost compared with earlier, narrower bids.
Village Manager Pavlachar (manager) compared the proposed cost to a 2022 organizational assessment the village contracted for the Fire Department with Polaris, which totaled $70,900, and said that three years of escalation and expanded scope make the current police-study price consistent with prior professional-service procurements. Manager Pavlachar also told trustees that results of the study should be available before the village finalizes site selection and schematic design for a new police facility so staffing numbers used by architects remain accurate.
Trustees who spoke expressed support for the study but asked that the chief and manager ensure the scope yields usable, timely results and that the village obtain value comparable to prior engagements. Trustee Cassidy pulled the item from the consent agenda to discuss the scope; she then moved the contract for approval. The board approved the contract by roll call vote.
The study will assess staffing needs, deployment strategies for current staffing levels and recommended staffing if additional positions are advised; it will also examine patrol zones and crime incident data. The contract will be managed by the Village Manager’s Office with input from police leadership. No detailed contract amount was disclosed in the board discussion beyond the manager’s reference to prior fire-department contract figures.
Trustees stressed that implementing any staffing changes recommended by the consultant would require separate budgetary and administrative approvals.
