In 2003, the Sparks Police Department completed a reorganization moving away from a two Deputy Chief organizational chart. This organizational system introduced a concept of management through the use of Lieutenants in the special assignment role of Commanders to help flatten the organization. In this organizational model, the one remaining Deputy Chief's role in the organization was reduced as the Commanders/Manager were responsible for the daily operations of the four divisions (Administration, Detective, Patrol and Records) that were in place at this time. The Deputy Chief was mainly administrative and not in the direct span of control of the Commanders or Records Manager.

During the department reorganization of 2009, one of the Commander positions were eliminated. This combined the Administration and Records Divisions under the civilian manager and placed other duties and assignments that were previously assigned to the Administration Division to the Deputy Chief or the other Division Commanders. This added a layer of management back into the chain of command. Under the current Department reorganization plan, the addition of a Deputy Chief and removal of the special assignment rank of Commander will take place. This will once again streamline the chain of command and flatten the overall structure of the department.

This reorganization plan does not require any additional personnel, but a compliment change in the addition of one Deputy Chief of Police. This will in effect eliminate one lieutenant position (in the special assignment rank of Commander). With the reorganization, the following duties and responsibilities will take effect: By keeping with three Divisions (Patrol, Administration and one TBD) along with the Office of the Chief, it allows the two Deputy Chiefs and civilian manager greater control over their respective divisions with increased budgetary and daily management authorities.

The Administration Division will still consist of the Communications and Records Sections under the direction of a civilian manager. The Patrol Division will be under one of the Deputy Chiefs and take on additional administrative roles such as Emergency Management, LEPC, and other duties as assigned. The remaining Deputy Chief will oversee the new Division that will consist of the Detective Section, Internal Affairs Section, Crime Prevention Unit along with administrative duties as assigned.

The reorganization will allow the addition of a Lieutenant back into the Detective Division. This will return the rank structure to match that in the Patrol Division. In the previous organizational model, the Detective Commander ranged from acting in the role of a sergeant during investigations to that of Acting Chief of Police. This span was too great and did not allow the Commander to focus on more upper level management/leadership work. By adding the Lieutenant back in Detectives, the Deputy Chief can focus on the management roles needed and the Lieutenant can focus on investigative responsibilities.

Based on the new proposed organizational plan this plan will allow for additional succession planning and preparation for future advancement. Currently, the department only has one assignment outside of patrol to allow for the development of the lieutenants. This plan will allow for additional movement within the department for future development of qualified Deputy Chief candidates. This plan also allows for the future development of Police Chief candidates. Under the previous model, though the Commanders had input of the management of their divisions, they were not exposed to the normal and routine dealings with other City based meetings and strategic planning. Those meetings were reserved for the Chief and Deputy Chief. Under the proposed plan, both Deputy Chiefs will participate in this higher level meetings and discussion. This will allow for better succession planning for the Chief of Police for the future.

This reorganization will also create the separation between management and labor. This will help clarify the convoluted language introduced as SB98 from the 2011 Nevada Legislative Session now in N.R.S. 288. This reorganization would make the Deputy Chiefs the first line of management and the Lieutenants the second layer of supervisor in the labor groups. The costs associated with this reorganization are based on the complement change to add one Deputy Chief. The actual costs are hard to determine based on transferring from an hourly employee to a salaried employee. For this FY, the costs will be offset by the elimination of the special assignment pay for the Commander rank within the Lieutenants group and salary saving for open and vacant positions that will not be filled until later this FY based on current recruitment schedules.

The City Council may approve the item as recommended. 2. The City council may reject the recommendation of staff. 3. The City Council may choose not to approve the staffing changes, but direct the City Manager further.