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Council to consider filling lieutenant role after review of budget and department structure
Summary
Staff presented budget comparisons showing filling the lieutenant position (grade 18, step 10) would cost roughly the same as current structure while leaving it vacant could save about $11,716 annually but require reorganizing investigator assignments; Chief Hedland and others argued the lieutenant provides necessary second‑in‑command and administrative help and asked the council to place the item on the October agenda.
City staff outlined options for the police department’s lieutenant position following a pause to evaluate budget and organizational effects. Staff said the lieutenant position is budgeted at grade 18, step 10 with total compensation (excluding health insurance) of about $123,114.95; keeping the lieutenant and associated investigator positions in place yields the current structure, while leaving the lieutenant vacant and reassigning duties would produce an estimated savings of roughly $11,716 annually.
Chief Hedland said the lieutenant role has historically combined investigative duties with administrative tasks and that restoring the position would provide a clear second‑in‑command and capacity for policy review and other administrative work. Council members asked about timing, legal liabilities and whether the officer serving as lieutenant could continue as task‑force commander; staff and the chief said those role decisions would be handled through task‑force governance and internal assignment.
Council members generally supported bringing the matter to the formal agenda. Staff indicated they would return the item on the October 7 council meeting agenda for final action, and that an open investigator vacancy would be filled in any scenario.
