Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Police Department Restructuring - 12/23/2004 Police work on
restructuring
The Eagan Police Department is
C in the midst of a structural
reshuffling intended to help cut
sergeants loose from their desks
and make each responsible for
a section of the city.
`) That accountability is expected
t to help address ongoing issues
N —from car break-ins to loud
parties—that might plague a
certain area.Currently,the
sergeants are assigned to
different shifts depending on
the time of day.
"You want to build some
cohesion,"said Deputy Chief
Jim McDonald,who was
recently promoted as part of
the reorganization. "If you can
centralize your efforts and
know what's going on, I think
the public is going to be better
served."
The first phase of the
restructuring took place after
another captain retired late this
year, allowing the department
to do away with that position
and promote some sergeants to
lieutenants.
By 2006,the police hopes to
have four lieutenants in place
to round out the higher ranks.
Next year,the department will
hire a civilian crime prevention
specialist.
At some point, police will have
more information so
neighborhoods know which
sergeants to call for quality-of-
life concerns.This is the first
department restructuring since
1993.
—Laura Yuen `?