By Town Crier Staff Writer

Six patrol officers in the Los Altos Police Department could move up in rank as part of the city’s plan to retain officers and rebuild the police force following a year of record employee vacancies.

The Los Altos City Council is considering a city staff proposal that would promote a half dozen officers to agent positions, a new field rank above officer but below sergeant. The agents would essentially act as supervisors, overseeing the field operations of their particular patrol team in the sergeant’s absence.

Police Chief Lucy Carlton said many officers see a limited future under the department’s present organizational rank structure. Implementing the new positions would help the department retain more officers by providing them better opportunities for mobility, she said.

“There is no other way to attract and keep officers if we’re taking them from the outside at that level,”Carlton said.

Carlton said that in a recent department survey, officers indicated that they would set aside their plans to seek employment with other departments to remain and become involved in the testing process for an agent position.

Under the proposal, each of the department’s four patrol teams would include one agent. The remaining two agents could move about in specialized positions to improve supervision in these areas. Officers would be required to test for the positions.

The proposal is in response to a police service audit submitted by Hughes, Perry & Associates last fall recommending ways to reorganize the department and provide improved services.

The 33-member department is in the process of recovering from a period of low officer recruitment and retention due to low salaries, high housing costs and better opportunities elsewhere.

The department swore in nine new officers last month. Carlton said while the department is in the process of rebuilding, the level of experience and knowledge is limited.

The agents could mentor the new officers and assist as necessary, she said.

The new positions would cost about $30,000, or $5,000 per position, to reclassify during the first year.

The city would implement the new positions in conjunction with the 2001-2003 Service and Financial Plan.