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Goldson: A new fiscal reality.
A majority of the Board of Aldermen wants the city to hold off on hiring more number-two cops.
Twenty of the board’s 30 members have signed a letter to Police Chief Frank Limon requesting that he shelve a plan to fill up to three such vacancies. Only one of the department’s four assistant chief positions is now filled.
The letter called the vacancies “a unique opportunity to look at the department, its supervisory needs, and its organization structure,” especially in light of the city’s budget crisis. The city recently laid off 16 cops (one of whom has since been rehired).
Read the letter here.
Sixteen of the 20 signatories are members of the board’s Black and Hispanic Caucus.
Chief Limon recently told the aldermen in a committee hearing that he feels a need to fill the positions. (Read about that here.) An outside consultant — the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) — originally suggested creating the four slots as part of a broader revamping of the department in 2009 to increase supervisory control of areas like the narcotics unit, major crimes, and technology. Limon said that to be more strategic in deployment and to be smarter in using more limited resources, he needs enough administrators at the top.
He repeated that position Sunday when asked about the new letter: “As head of the agency, I have to manage day-to-day operations of the department and community relations. PERF recommended four [assistant chiefs] for adequate span and control and delegation of organizational responsibilities. Lack of span and control contributed to the events leading to a major corruption scandal. When I applied for the chief’s job, I was informed that the department would be staffed according to the PERF Report, which laid out the rationale for four assistant chiefs. My predecessor had four assistant chiefs, and I expect to continue the recommended reform implementation plans with the same staffing.”
Limon declined comment on when he’ll announce his choices for assistant chief. He called it an “ongoing process.”
Capt. Patrick Redding is the front runner to fill one of the vacant slots, overseeing patrol. Contenders under consideration for a second slot, overseeing investigative services, include Lt. John Velleca.
One of the letter’s signatories, West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson, argued Monday that New Haven doesn’t need four assistant chiefs, especially in tough budget times.
“The PERF report was done at a different time and under different economic circumstances. We are now in an environment that calls for austerity, as we witnessed several weeks ago when we released 16 street officers,” Goldson said.
“In addition, the budget presented to the Board of Aldermen calls for 26 less police officers than we currently employ. Reducing our street force while increasing our highest level leadership seems to be counterintuitive. In addition, I understand that several years ago the department increased the number of supervisors — captains and lieutenants.”
Board President Carl Goldfield, who’s often on the opposite side of Goldson on issues, signed the letter. He said he agrees that a reassessment is in order because of budget pressures. He said that he believes the four-assistants set-up has worked well but that fiscal reality requires a new explanation to make sure the idea still makes sense.
Mayor John DeStefano said he’s open to discussions on the letter.
“The structure came from the PERF report, [concerning] Billy White and the need for supervision,” DeStefano said. “Plus we need to develop a bench. [Having four assistant chiefs] worked well under Chief Lewis. But I don’t see why we wouldn’t talk to the board about the PD. They all need to work together.”
“I’m somewhat favorably disposed to having them fill the assistant chief positions. But we are facing much different budget picture now. The board should be given a reaffirmation of how this works and why this still makes sense. We should get an explanation and make sure everybody’s on the same page and it still makes sense.”
If ... Carl Goldfield signed the letter this is truly the end of the Chicago Two.
This place is almost completely crumbled and the only mortar holding it together are the front line cops and our immediate supervisors.
Get ready for THE SUMMER. Low morale, less cops, no overtime and more calls for service. HOLY CRAP!