Policy Text
Policy
206Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/06/10, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentStaffing Levels - 1Staffing Levels
206.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that proper supervision is available for all shifts. The
Department intends to balance the employee's needs against the need to have flexibility and
discretion in using personnel to meet operational needs. While balance is desirable, the paramount
concern is the need to meet operational requirements of the Department.
206.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA standards: 21.2.4, 41.1.1
206.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Buena Park Police Department to review and maintain the distribution and
allocation of Department personnel to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources.
206.3 MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS
The division commanders will determine minimum staffing levels for all areas of the Department
every January. Each division commander will direct his/her division lieutenants to review year-
end statistical data and position/staffing levels, and prepare a report with any recommended
adjustments. The year-end review will include an assessment of annual goals and the results of
meeting or not meeting them. The intent of the annual review is to ensure the divisions maintain an
equal balance of responsibility for personnel and community demands. The changes, if adopted,
will be implemented as soon as practical and will be reflected in the mid-year budget adjustment.
206.3.1 OPERATIONS DIVISION STAFFING LEVELS
The Operations Division Commander is responsible for the position and staffing levels of Patrol,
the Community Impact Team (CIT), and the Traffic Bureaus as outlined in the Department's
organizational chart. The operations lieutenants will work with the Crime Analyst Unit to review
statistical data related to calls for service, response times, crime trends, arrests, reports taken,
investigations workload, and community policing needs to determine the deployment levels for
each area of Patrol. The evaluation process for the deployment of sworn field personnel will include
the impact of professional staff Police Services Officers working in the field.
206.3.2 PATROL SCHEDULE SIGNUP
The Department Patrol schedule has several deployment periods in a calendar year. Each
deployment period consists of three shifts: watch one (graveyard), watch two (day shift), and watch
three (swing shift). The deployment periods generally run from January to May, May to August,
and August to January. The lieutenant collaterally assigned to scheduling has the authority to
make minor adjustments to the schedule if it is in the best interest of operational needs.
(a)Patrol lieutenants sign up for their respective shift based upon rotation among the
three.
(b)Sergeants sign up for their respective shifts based on seniority from their date of rank.
Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Staffing Levels
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/06/10, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentStaffing Levels - 2(c)One corporal will be assigned to each shift.
1.Corporals sign up for their shift based on date of rank until at least one corporal
occupies a designated corporal position on each shift.
2.If a corporal desires a shift another corporal has already selected, he or she
must wait and sign up on the hire-date seniority list.
3.In the event there are unfilled designated corporal positions, an equivalent
number of corporals must select from the unfilled positions, based on date of
rank.
4.Recently promoted corporals assigned to shifts do not count toward designated
corporal positions.
(d)Police officers sign up based on their hire date as a sworn police officer after the
designated corporal positions are filled.
Sergeants, corporals, and officers having worked the same shift (graves, days, or swings) for
three consecutive deployment periods shall rotate off that shift for at least one deployment. The
consecutive shift rotation schedule may be changed at the discretion of the Chief of Police based
on the organization's needs. Academy start date does not factor into department seniority shift
selection.
206.3.3 SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION STAFFING LEVELS
The Support Services Division Commander is responsible for the position and staffing levels
of the Detective Bureau and Administrative Services Bureau. The Support Services Division
Commander, assisted by the Detective Bureau Lieutenant and Administrative Lieutenant, will
prepare a report each year with recommended changes to the respective detective and support
units, as outlined in the Department organizational chart, for review and consideration by Staff.
The evaluation process will include demands for civilian Police Services Officers working in the
field assisting sworn personnel.
206.3.4 POSITION AND STAFFING LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
The division commanders will meet with the Chief of Police every January to review and
adopt any changes to the Department's position and staffing levels. The timeframe for
implementation of changes should reflect projected needs or adjustments for the next 12-month
period. The Department monthly report, with its year-end recap, should document the adopted
recommendations, and the organizational chart should be adjusted accordingly as the changes
occur during the year.
206.3.5 SUPERVISION DEPLOYMENTS
A Watch Commander and/or supervisor shall be on duty at all times. In order to accommodate
training and other unforeseen circumstances, a qualified officer may serve as an acting supervisor
instead of a sergeant. With prior authorization from the Operations Division Commander, an officer
may act as the Watch