Agenda - Council - 02/25/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Someone who is aware of developments in state legislation and local politics Most of the people interviewed do not think lobbying the legislature should be a key function of the Police Chief. They do think the Chief needs to be aware of what's being proposed and what's been adopted. He or she should be able to provide information to thc Council that will be helpful in making decisions. On a local level, the Police Chief's position is political by its very nature. The consensus seems to be that the Chief should avoid becoming enmeshed in local politics. Someone who is visible in the community: makes a good impression, leaves a good impression Whether or not the Police Chief belongs to community groups is a personal decision, according to the people interviewed. Membership carries potential conflicts of interest if people expect favors based on their association with the Chief. It would also be problematic if some segments of the community were alienated by the perception that the Chief was closely aligned with some other segment of the community. What is important, people seem to agree, is that the Chief is visible in the community. He or she should attend community functions and engage in other outreach activities. The Chief should be accessible to the community and should be able to empathize with people who call with concerns and complaints. CHANGES THAT WOULD HELP THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF BE SUCCESSFUL From the perspective of department employees, additional resources for staff, equipment and training would help ensure the success of the next Police Chief. The Chief should also have support staff to assist with day-to-day operations. One suggestion was to have two sergeant positions, one administrative and one patrol. Another was to make the temporary corporal positions permanent. Yet another was to have a non-sworn position such as an administrative assistant who could assist with research and "paper pushing." There was disagreement about whether or not there should be supervisors assigned to each shift, there seemed to be agreement that supervisors need more time to monitor reports. As important as the organizational structure is in the department, it is even more important that the organization as a whole cooperate with and give support to the Police Chief. Most people assume there will be a learning curve whether the selection is made from inside or outside the department. Clear expectations from the City Council and good feedback on progress will make the learning curve more productive. 10