Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police chief Jackie urges reclassification and new drug-and-traffic detective in Woodfin budget talks
Summary
Woodfin Police Chief Jackie outlined requests for reclassifying a patrol commander to captain, adding two lieutenant-level watch commanders and a grant-funded traffic-and-drug detective, saying about 20% of shifts currently run without a supervisor and that additional supervision and a detective role would improve safety, supervision and investigations.
Woodfin Police Chief Jackie told the Town Council at its May 26 budget work session that the department needs structural changes to address supervision, recruitment and drug enforcement as the town grows.
"One out of every five shifts or about 20% of our shifts are worked without a supervisor on duty," Jackie said, framing the request for two lieutenant-level watch commanders who would provide night and weekend supervision. She also asked the council to reclassify the patrol commander from lieutenant to captain, saying the incumbent "has been carrying out the role of a captain" and that the reclassification would align pay with duties.
Jackie outlined a multi-part proposal: the reclassification (a relatively small pay adjustment she estimated at roughly $8,000 to formalize an already-performed role), two watch-commanders (lieutenant rank) to reduce unsupervised shifts and a combined traffic-and-drug investigator. The latter would be largely grant-funded through the Governor's Highway Safety Program (GHSP), which Jackie said funds about 85% of startup salary and equipment costs in year one and steps down over four years.
Asked about cost and implementation, Jackie said the first-year implementation for a new experienced detective position would include a vehicle, upfitting, uniforms and equipment and "will be about $200,000" to $220,000, and that a lieutenant-level implementation could track near that same order of magnitude when factoring salary, benefits and equipment.
Council members pressed for timing and funding. Sherry Powers, staff lead on the budget, said the proposed recommended budget starts from a conservative, revenue-neutral position and that adding recurring positions this year would either require cutting other items or raising revenue. Sherry said the administration could return with grant-specific budget amendments if the GHSP award comes through, noting that the GHSP award could make the traffic-and-drug position feasible without a tax increase.
Chief Jackie also described retention measures already in place: a step-and-incentive career ladder implemented in 2024, education and certification pay bumps, and proposed small residency, medic and military incentives (in the 1.5% to 2.5% range) to improve retention and local recruitment.
Next steps: the council asked staff to include the chief's requests in the budget packet materials and to return with precise dollar figures and the proposed ordinance language; staff said it would bring any grant award back to council with a budget amendment before hiring.
