by Garth Meyer
A new plan is in place for non-sworn Redondo Beach Police Department employees.
The RBPD will take five existing, “civilian” positions and convert them to four new ones, to create more opportunity for advancement, and to aid in recruitment and retention.
The city council approved the change last week.
Redondo police will now have a dedicated records manager, public safety communications (911 dispatch) manager, a supervisor of municipal service officers — who handles parking and animal control – and an analyst to oversee the police department budget.
“All of these have a focus on succession planning,” RBPD Chief Joe Hoffman said. “We don’t want to have someone reach a ceiling when they still have 20 years to go in their career.”
Previously, for example, non-sworn employees in parking enforcement reported to a sworn officer. Now, the supervisor of the municipal service officers will be non-sworn, thus opening a path for advancement.
Hoffman stated that the new system will improve the overall service of the RBPD because the new (department heads) will focus on their specific area.
The RBPD has 60 non-sworn employees; from jailers to records staff and communications
(these three units are staffed 24/7). A finance department and 96 uniformed officers complete the force.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without everybody,” said Hoffman, who started with the department as a 19-year-old volunteer in 1994.
No completely new positions are being created with the adjustments.
“We’re just funding different (jobs),” Hoffman said.
In the previous system, when an individual job opening came up, the chief would just ask human resources to list it.
“Yeah, this is a lot more work (to reorganize), but it’s the right thing to do for the city, and for the citizens,” said Hoffman.
City Manager Mike Witzansky assured the city council the changes are all within the existing police budget. ER
