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Public Safety Commission asks council for a city-based lieutenant; council tasks staff to develop job description and funding plan
Summary
The Public Safety Commission recommended Hayden secure a lieutenant-level KCSO position stationed in city hall to improve local accountability and to adopt a growing budget allocation for law enforcement. Council voted to direct staff to work with the commission and sheriff's office to develop a job description and funding options.
The Hayden Public Safety Commission recommended creating a leadership position embedded in Hayden to oversee deputies assigned to the city, and the council voted to direct staff to work with the commission and sheriff's office on a job description and funding plan.
John Spencer, chair of the Public Safety Commission, told council the commission recommended "that law enforcement be elevated to include, as soon as possible, a leadership position... a lieutenant, with at least 15 years experience" who would be housed in Hayden and serve as a single point of contact for council, staff and residents. Spencer said the commission also recommended that "the city council prioritize a law enforcement budget that is on a continual track to increase support, for additional positions if needed, parallel with city growth."
Commission members also advised the council that current monthly reports and the "measure what matters" documents provide sufficient accountability for hours by deputies assigned to Hayden, but that an embedded lieutenant would be an important additional accountability step.
Council discussion focused on operational authority, measurement of deputy hours, and budget implications. Several council members asked how accountability would be tracked; Spencer and other speakers said operational reporting details would be part of a job description and a collaborative implementation plan with the sheriff's office. Captain Smart (Kootenai County Sheriff's Office) said a person on site would be "a liaison" and that operational authority remains with the sheriff's office.
Outcome: Council voted to direct staff to work with the Public Safety Commission and the sheriff's office to develop a job description and analyze funding and budget options for the recommended position and related recommendations. The motion passed on a roll-call vote (vote recorded in the meeting transcript). The council did not authorize immediate hiring or a budget allocation at the meeting; staff was directed to return with more details.
Why it matters: The recommendation would change the administrative and supervisory relationship between Hayden and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office by creating a locally based command-level liaison. The position and any associated funding would affect the city budget and the delivery of law enforcement services.
