Police chief asks council to approve an administrative deputy chief role; says department fully staffed at 28 sworn officers

Police Chief Feister outlined a multi‑page request to create a second deputy chief position focused on administrative oversight of community programs, training compliance, equipment and grant administration.

Feister told the committee that most departments with more than 20 employees have more than one administrative deputy and that the Lincoln Police Department’s administrative workload — including school resource officer oversight, evidence-room inventories, fleet maintenance, policy updates and grant reporting — has grown. He said the department currently has 28 sworn officers and is fully staffed for the first time in nearly five years; he emphasized the request is not for an additional sworn officer but for a reclassification/assignment that would not increase total headcount.

Councilmembers asked about a potential “domino effect” of promotions requiring additional hires and about timing. Feister said he would not implement the change before January to allow field training and probationary periods to complete and said prior salary savings from an unfilled sergeant’s position have produced recurring savings he believes will cover the cost of the proposed change. He asked the council to place the request on the regular agenda and to consider the matter with fiscal-year timing in mind.