By John Nickerson
Staff Writer
February 8, 2007
NORWALK - With nearly 30 police officers scheduled to retire by the end of 2010 and the deputy chief's job vacant, the Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously yesterday to hire a consultant to examine the department's command structure.
No action was taken on any promotions yesterday in executive session, and the commissioners said they will meet Feb. 20 -Êa day before the promotion lists expire.
Police union President William Curwen said he wants promotions to be made immediately.
If the commissioners do not act on any positions at their next meeting, Curwen said current candidates would have to retake promotional exams to establish new lists. It could be 18 months before the next round of promotions, he said.
Curwen attributed the lapse to the time it takes to develop and administer a new test for officers, and to the pace of decisions by commissioners.
During the last round of police promotions Sept. 18, the board elevated one officer to captain, three to lieutenant, five to sergeant and four to detective.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the firm that wrote a 1995 study of police department, will conduct the study to re-examine the department's command structure.
It will cost the city $9,000 and take 30 to 45 days for the association to rewrite the 10 or so pages devoted to command structure in the 1995 study, Rilling said.
He said the association also will look at the 28 retirements expected by 2010 to recommend ways to reduce the effect of so many seasoned officers leaving.
Commissioner Peter Torrano, a former captain in the police department, said this is a "golden opportunity" to reconsider the hierarchy that directs the department's 171 officers.
The current structure of three captains reporting to a deputy chief, who in turn reports to the chief, does not seem efficient, he said.
Since Deputy Chief Mark Palmer resigned in October to take the police chief's job in Coventry, his position has remained open.
The rank-and-file choice to fill Palmer's shoes is Capt. Rosemary Arway, a 26-year department veteran who has held her post since July 2000, Curwen said.
Police commissioners said they have been reluctant to promote someone to the deputy chief's position because that would create too many new executives in the department, as a lieutenant was elevated to captain in September.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia said the re-examination also would consider changes in the department over the past dozen years.
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