HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.E.4. Authorization to Promote to Sergeant-John Buetow CITY OF SHAKOPEE ~ ~ ~ ~m~
POLICE DEPARTMENT -
Memorandum ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AMENDED
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Dan Hughes, Chief ofPolice/Emergency Management Director
SUBJECT: Authorization to Promote to Sergeant -John Buetow
DATE: March 18, 2008
INTRODUCTION•
The Police Department is requesting Council approval to promote Officer John Buetow
to the position of Sergeant.
BACKGROUND:
The 2008 budget for the Police Department includes funding for eight sergeants. The
recent resignation of Sergeant- Clay Johnson creates a vacancy at this level.
Along with supervising their patrol shifts, sergeants are expected to flex their schedules
in order to accommodate events in their beat, attend staff meetings and training, for
example. This has put a great deal of stress on the patrol schedule and causes gaps where
there is no supervisor working. Additionally, the department has one sergeant on
light-duty because of injury and one sergeant taking Family Medical Leave in April.
This means that the department will be down 50 percent of our first line patrol
supervisors. Sick time and vacations also cause gaps in supervision.
The gaps in sergeant coverage do not provide the proper supervision and development
needs of the employees within this department, while managing the quality level of
service that we need and want to provide to the members of our community. If
authorized, filling this vacancy would allow the department the flexibility to again
schedule six sergeants for patrol coverage and reduce the need to pay supervisor's
overtime to cover shifts.
Not only will filling this vacancy provide greater accountability and clearer fines of
authority within our department, it will also allow sergeants time to focus on the direct
supervision of their personnel, with less time spent on administrative tasks.
The impact of not filling the current vacant sergeant position will adversely affect span of
control. The;"span of control for supervisors would fall back below nationally
recommended levels. Almost half of the department's patrol officers have less than three
years of experience. Not filling this vacancy would mean less supervision of those
officers and create gaps of supervision. As in the past, the gaps would most likely occur
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late at night and early in the morning. This is typically when officers are dealing with
more violent,complex calls for service.
The Police Civil Service Commission conducted the necessary testing to create an
eligible register for the position of Sergeant. The following names are the top candidates
currently listed, in alphabetical order, on the eligible register established by the Police
Civil Service Commission:
• John Buetow
• Matt Conway
• Jeff Wyckoff
Minnesota State Statute Chapter 419 requires the Police Civil Service Commission to
submit the top three names listed on the eligible register to the Appointing Authority
(City Council)' to fill any vacancy. I recommend that John Buetow be promoted to the
position of Sergeant.
VISIONING. RELATIONSHIP:
Having qualified individuals in leadership positions within the Police Department
contributes to a vibrant, resilient and stable city (Goal D).
RECOMMENDATION:
Leadership is a critical component in providing acceptable policing services. I
recommend that the City Council authorize promoting Officer John Buetow to the
position of Sergeant, at wage step 3 of the current labor contract, and subject to a
six-month probationary period.
ACTION REQUESTED:
If the Council concurs, they should, by motion, authorize the promotion of Officer John
Buetow to the position of Sergeant effective March 31, 2008, at wage step 3 of the
current labor contract, and subject to a six-month probationary period.
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