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Report regarding a resolution to amend the salary schedule for the City of South San Francisco to reinstate the classification of Deputy Police Chief (Leah Lockhart, Human Resources Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends the approval of a resolution to the City’s salary schedule to reinstate the classification of Deputy Police Chief in order to maintain appropriate leadership and administrative oversight necessary to achieve departmental objectives.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Deputy Police Chief position was originally established in 2013, in order to provide second-in-command leadership and administrative oversight to the Police Department. Similar to other deputy department head positions within the City, the role of the Deputy Police Chief includes assuming the duties the Police Chief in their absence, and assisting the Chief by providing leadership and administrative oversight to the operational divisions of the department. In 2016, the department leadership team was restructured, eliminating the position of Deputy Police Chief. The duties of the Deputy Police Chief were reassigned among three Police Captains.
In December 2021, the City Manager appointed a new Police Chief, who was promoted from the rank of Police Captain. In addition to the retirement of a second Police Captain, two Police Captain positions were filled by internal promotion. In assessing the needs and goals of the department, along with the knowledge, skills, and experience among new leadership team, staff recommends reinstating the position of Deputy Police Chief. It is anticipated that this position will be filled by an internal promotional process, and the resulting vacant Police Captain position would be eliminated.
As the Deputy Police Chief classification has been inactive since 2016, it has not received the same negotiated salary adjustments as the Police Captain classification during the past six years. In order to maintain a minimum differential above subordinate classifications, staff recommends adjusting the salary range upon reinstatement. After reviewing internal relationships among positions and in keeping with adjustments provided to active positions since 2016, staff recommends establishing a Deputy Police Chief salary range that is five percent (5%) above the classification of Police Captain and ten percent (10%) below the Police Chief ($205,963-$250,349 annually). In order to establish the recommended new salary range for the Deputy Police Chief, an amendment to the City’s salary schedule is necessary.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Deputy Police Chief position will replace one Police Captain position, with a net increase of approximately $20,000 in salary and benefits. The remaining cost for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 will be absorbed within the current operating budget, and this change will be reflected in the proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
This action supports the City Council’s strategic priority of workforce development by ensuring the retention and appropriate compensation of a highly qualified Police Department leadership team.
CONCLUSION
The reinstatement of the Deputy Police Chief position at a salary level appropriate to the duties and supervisory relationships of the position will support the leadership objectives of the Police Department. In order to reinstate this position, an amendment to the City’s salary schedule is recommended.
Attachments
1. Job Description for Deputy Police Chief