Police Department update
IN THE CITY
by Jim Bennett
Over the last few weeks, I have shared with you a lot of information regarding the 2012 budget. The challenge of trying to deliver the same level of services to the community without increasing the property tax rate is a lofty goal. It is one that few communities are able to meet without making some very tough choices.
This week I would like to share more details about our Police Department. Specifically, I would like to take a look at the staffing levels within the department. In 2010, the department consisted of 22 sworn officers and one public safety dispatcher. Besides the chief, there were six sergeants and 15 officers. One of the sergeants was assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Costs associated with that employee were reimbursed to the city.
As many of you may know, the city operates its own dispatch center. Besides dispatching for our own Police and Fire Departments, the city also dispatches for Chapman and Mapleton fire departments. We receive a payment of $11,648 per year to perform that service. We also used to receive $12,782 per year to dispatch for Ashland Police Department. In July 2011, without any prior notice or discussion, we were notified that the Maine State Police had started performing dispatch services for Ashland at a reduced cost. All 911 emergency calls are answered by the designated Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in Bangor and then transferred to our dispatch center.
To provide the coverage for the dispatch center, it was necessary to have 16 shifts (based on 8-hour shifts) per week covered by one of the sworn police officers. The other five shifts per week were covered by the one full-time dispatcher. Essentially three of the full-time officers were employed as dispatchers. This practice left only 12 of the patrol officers actually performing law enforcement work on the streets.
This practice did require additional funding and was considered a luxury. Sworn police officers require more training annually under state law as well as additional liability insurance. Further, they are paid more than a public safety dispatcher. Finally, it is generally accepted that public safety dispatchers do a better job in that role than a police officer who is required to work dispatch. Hence, over the last year or so, we have been replacing any police officer vacancies with public safety dispatchers. We now have three dispatchers and will hire another when the next vacancy occurs.
Staffing at the management level of the department had one sergeant for every two officers that were serving on the road (when including the MDEA position). According to International Association of Police Chiefs, the average supervisory position per patrol averages just over 10 officers per supervisor. Hence, through attrition, we have realigned the management of the department to consist of the police chief, a working deputy police chief and two sergeants. None of the changes made have required any employees to be laid off.
In total, the department is now authorized at a level of 16 sworn officers, including the chief and all management. As I indicated earlier, we are carrying one additional police officer at this time and one less dispatcher until the next vacancy occurs.
Finally, I would like to publicly recognize the excellent work our new police chief is doing. For the first time in a few years, spending for the Police Department was within the budget allocation. Changing staff practices at the airport and other schedule changes that reduced the excess use of overtime played a major role in accomplishing this goal. Comparing the 2011 overtime expenses of $185,942 to the previous year of $258,076 (2010), one can see the impact on the overall budget.
Next week, I will address the changes in the Fire Department and what the future may hold for that operation.
Jim Bennett is Presque Isle’s city manager. He can be reached at 760-2785 or via e-mail at jbennett@presqueisleme.us.
