Conroe will add a second deputy chief to its police department, a position that was removed about eight years ago.
The 106-member force now will include two deputy chief positions and one less patrol officer, according to changes approve by the Conroe City Council Thursday. The move was recommended during a review by the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, a national police leadership and management organization.
“It was recommended due to our size and organization,” said Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis. “It will help us to better serve the citizens of Conroe.”
Dupuis said the responsibilities for the position have not yet been developed and he declined to discuss if anyone was being considered for the new post. According to the revised ordinance to include the new position, it will pay between $82,00 and nearly $96,000. The position is appointed by the chief.
“I believe that having this position will enhance the senior staff of the department so that it can focus on the issues that need attention,” Dupuis wrote in a memo to the council. “This addition will strengthen the leadership team of the department. The creation of this position at this time gives me organizational advantage by allowing assignments to be made immediately and prevent uncertainly in the future for employees.”
Under the city’s ordinance, responsibilities for deputy chiefs can include management and administration, personnel assignment, crime control effort, budget assessment and policy matters, law enforcement, traffic regulation and other police duties. The deputy chief also may serve as the department head in the chief’s absence.
The Conroe Police Department is in the process of seeking recognized status from the Texas Police Chief Associations for adopting the best practices approach for law enforcement agencies. It include a review of all policies and procedures and, if obtained, the Conroe Police Department would be only the second in Montgomery County behind Shenandoah to earn the designation.
As part of that process, the council adopted an ordinance creating a police department and outlining the responsibilities and authority of officers and the chief.
In another matter, the city hired a firm to reband its public safety radios as part of a national effort to concentrate police and fire channels in similar radio frequencies and allow cell phone companies to use more radio bands. The cost of the project will be bore by Sprint/Nextel, which request the change.
Finally, the city accepted a $50,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase a mobile generator to keep the sewage treatment lift system operational in the event of a power failure. The city will have to put about $4,000 toward the project.
Police and Fire Departments in Conroe
The city revised its police and fire ordinance to add a deputy police chief to the department. Following is a breakdown of the police and fire departments in the city.
Police Department
1- Chief
2- Deputy Chief
5- Lieutenants
13 Sergeants
85 Police Officers
Fire Department
1- Chief
1- Assistant Chief
5 Battalion Chiefs
22 Lieutenants
54 Firefighters
Source: City of Conroe