ATTACHMENT 1

MEMORANDUM

TO:                 W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

FROM:           Gregg Jarvies, Chief of Police

SUBJECT:    Reclassification of Police Officer Position to Captain          

DATE:           July 29, 2005

The purpose of this memorandum is to request authorization to reclassify a police officer position to the position of captain.

The department currently has two captain positions.  Each commands two patrol platoons and several specialty units, including training, K-9, Community services, School Resource Officers, traffic enforcement, and investigations. Each captain supervises approximately 40 people.  The two captains are supervised by a major, who serves as the department’s operations commander.

Major Oakley is retiring on December 1.  We are developing promotional processes to fill his position, two lieutenant vacancies (one current and one anticipated) and the sergeant vacancies created by these promotions. 

I believe that the growth of the department, the specialization of our functions, and the self-imposed demand for outstanding service delivery support the need for a third captain position in the department.  This additional command position would increase the level of oversight over our operations, would provide additional and necessary support for our relatively young supervisory staff, and would allow the department to place its specialty units under a separate, unified command.

The reclassification of a police position to captain will cost approximately $8,000 per year.  Funds sufficient to cover this added cost have been identified in the current departmental budget.