By Paul Montgomery
The Union Leader
HOOKSETT, N.H. — As the police department reviews an audit performed by Public Safety Strategies Group, the suggestion to restructure staff is already under way.
At the command staff level, the administrative lieutenant will become a civilian position.
Police commission Chairwoman Joanne McHugh said many of the jobs done by the administrative lieutenant can be handled by a civilian. The work includes fleet management and updating department policies.
“I had done research previously and there are a number of departments that do have a civilian that has particular jobs that were done by a lieutenant,” McHugh said.
Kym Craven, director of Public Safety Strategies Group, said the department was seeking to make the transition with the audit after July 1 for the new budget cycle. When Lt. Les McDaniel retired from the adminstration position, it allowed the department to make the change earlier.
The department also plans to save money by adding a part-time clerk to free up officers for duty.
“That’s a trend happening around the country,” Craven said. “It frees up sworn personnel and with the economy the way it is, we’re looking at ways to streamline and Hooksett is falling in line with that as well.”
With the staffing changes, the department is also in a transition period after the Jan. 31 resignation of former chief Stephen Agrafiotis. Prior to resigning, Agrafiotis had been on paid administrative leave, and Daigle has been acting chief since September.
McHugh said the police commission has not reached a decision on filling the chief position.
McHugh said the department is looking into adding patrol officers, and expanding sergeant and detective positions.
Copyright 2012 Union Leader Corp.