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Public Safety eliminates commander positions
By Kelly Wilkinson
In an effort to improve communications, morale and efficiency within the Public Safety Department, city manager Bob LaSala announced last week that the department will eliminate its commander positions.
The Public Safety Department's commanders--who rank just below the director--are in charge of fire services, police services and administrative/technical services. As of July 15, these positions will be vacated in favor of a system without middle management.
"We wanted to set up a structure and logical work units where responsibility was very close to the line," LaSala said. "And I concluded the position of commander was no longer the best way to get that done."
None of the commanders, who will not be reassigned to other positions within the department, were available for comment.
LaSala said an assessment of the Public Safety Department over the past several months revealed that the department needed a more hands-on director, and that "responsibility, accountability, and authority should be pushed down to the lowest level possible."
Both LaSala and Brown Taylor, the interim director of Public Safety, said the new management structure will better serve Sunnyvale's unique Public Safety force. Sunnyvale's officers are among the few in the state trained in both firefighting and policing, and every officer is expected to rotate between the two roles.
"There's rotation at the line level, but when you move up, you lose that rotation," Taylor said. In eliminating the commanders, who are specific to either the police or fire department, Taylor said the department will experience a greater overall cohesion.
"With a flatter organization, when you remove that level, any impediment with that level is going to be removed," he said, acknowledging past communication problems within the department.
LaSala said the restructuring will take place over the summer, in plenty of time to iron out the kinks before the new director comes on. That position is expected to be filled by early fall.
Both Taylor and LaSala said the decision was in no way indicative of the performance of the commanders.
"They are all held in high regard both personally and professionally, and this is not a reflection on their ability," Taylor said. "They have a proven record of competence and professionalism, and this is not meant to be demeaning to them. They're being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and have earned."
LaSala echoed those sentiments, and said it was a difficult decision to make because of their service to the city.
"These commanders are experienced law enforcement managers and have contributed greatly to the success of the department."
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
