Strategy #30
Civilianization/Privatization
In any law enforcement agency, the uniformed officer is very expensive to recruit, train, and retain. Efforts should be undertaken to move non-uniformed personnel into positions that do not require powers of arrest, but will support the agency’s public safety, traffic safety, and service goals. Privatization is another option to be considered in the effort to return more uniform personnel to field service.
Background
Law enforcement agencies are complex organizations with multiple task levels and responsibilities. Traditionally, the uniformed officer performs many functions beyond the primary enforcement activities. Non-uniformed (civilian) employees can perform some of these tasks, and some may be privatized. Civilians already hold many of the administrative and most of the support positions (e.g., clerical, janitorial, and mechanical positions) in law enforcement agencies. There are a number of job classifications and tasks that are currently performed by uniformed personnel that might be transferred to non-uniformed members or be privatized, thereby enhancing the agency’s ability to provide service and support to the community.
Actions
- Consider hiring civilian personnel for some high tech positions such as local area network and wide area network (LAN/WAN) administration and coordination in field locations.
- Establish career mobility for civilian employees.
- Use trained civilian staff for follow-up customer service calls.
- Consider using qualified civilian employees to conduct training currently taught by uniformed personnel at the academy and in the field. A number of government and agency classifications already cover many of these tasks.
- Review positions within the agency that may be redefined for civilian positions.
- Assess applicant investigation and testing, recruitment and public affairs for possible reassignment to civilian personnel or for privatization.
Benefits
- Create more assignments and diversity for civilian employees.
- Free up more time for uniformed employees to perform enforcement activities.
- Opportunity for more geographical movement for civilian employees.
- Public would benefit by receiving better, timelier service and protection.
- More effective use of training and personnel.
- Civilianization/privatization of certain positions may make additional personnel available for traffic safety efforts.
Other Considerations
- There may be labor union or contractual issues requiring clarification or negotiation.
- Replacement positions versus additional duties or personnel can be difficult to reach agreement on.
- There are costs associated with training and reassignment.
- Reduces sworn manpower available for mobilization in the time of natural disasters, riots or other critical need situations.
- Civilian/privatized employees do not possess law enforcement skills and/or authority and thus the ability to apprehend criminals is lost in some positions.
- May cause sworn staffing reductions.