Police Department Shuffle Could Cut Costs

BROOKSVILLE - Shuffling police department positions and titles could cut $4,389 from the upcoming budget year.

Police Chief George Turner's proposal for the city council includes applying the salary funds of a retiring secretary towards hiring a new officer.

The secretary's job duties, including payroll and purchasing office supplies, would be assumed by the chief and another civilian staff member.

"I would rather have another police officer on the street," Turner said Thursday about the extra workload.

The department has been shorthanded of both supervisors and officers as of late, with some retiring and a sergeant currently serving in Iraq.

Ideally, the chief would like to have a sergeant on every shift, but the depleted ranks have made that impossible. The temporary arrangement is to have sergeants on night shifts and let the chief and his lieutenant serve as supervisors during the day.

Both a patrol officer and a detective will be promoted to sergeant with the city council's approval. Those positions do bring raises, but Turner said the salaries are based on starting rates and are still less pay than the veteran officers leaving the positions.

The detective sergeant will oversee major crimes, records management and the evidence department.

The proposal is on the agenda for the city council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.