DIXON – The Dixon Police Department will be getting rid of the title of lieutenant and replacing it with deputy chief.
Dixon Police Chief Steve Howell recently spoke to the City Council about making the change in rank.
The department has two lieutenant leadership positions, which are promotions made though the local police and fire commission.
“State statute allows police departments with more than 25 full-time officers to create two deputy chief positions,” Howell said. “The appointments are made by the chief of police and may come from any rank of sworn, full-time officers of the department, whom have a least 5 years of full-time service as a police officer in that department, and shall serve as a deputy chief at the chief’s discretion.”
Those already holding the rank of lieutenant — Clay Whelan and Brad Sibley — will automatically be appointed to the deputy chief designation. Compensation and job duties will remain the same.
The main difference is that the chief will have more authority when it comes to promoting staff, rather than the police and fire commission.
Mayor Li Arellano Jr. said there are pros and cons to both structures but he would vote in favor of it because of the recommendation from city staff.
The council approved an ordinance making the change Monday.
The powers and duties of the positions are “active direction and supervision over all sergeants and patrol officers subject to the supervision of the Chief of Police; professional development of the Police Department through training, policy and procedure development; expansion of capacity through programs such as administrative adjudication, technological opportunities and recruiting programs; make recommendations for police-related ordinances and revisions thereof, public relations and public education; and promoting skill in sergeants and patrol officers,” according to the ordinance.
The Sterling Police Department adopted the structure in March 2017. Chief Alex Chavira also has two deputy chiefs, Pat Bartel and Jeff Mohr.