The city council approved an ordinance revising the table of organization for the Paterson Police Department to increase the number of captains to 11 from 7, according to government records.
New table of organization also creates a new rank of employees at the police department called police assistants. Police brass have said the new rank will open up opportunities for city residents, 18 of whom will be hired for the post at entry level police pay. Each hire will go through a one-year program and graduate to become police officer.
Police chief William Fraher has told council members the assistants will learn about police regulations and general policing. He noted not every single hire will successfully graduate to become a police officer. Other changes to the table include reducing the number of lieutenants by four and sergeants by 18, according to the ordinance approved on November 22nd, 2016.
The new table of organizations for police is as follows:
- 1 police chief
- 3 deputy chiefs
- 11 captains (was 7)
- 32 lieutenants (was 36)
- 62 sergeants (was 80)
- 475 police officers
- 18 police assistants
- 50 special police officers.
Council members approved the new table of organization in a 6-0 vote.
The council also approved an accompanying resolution accelerating the effect of the ordinance. The ordinance came into effect immediately upon passage. A typical ordinance takes 28-days to come into effect after passage.
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