Syracuse City Auditor Alexander Marion released a study Monday of the city of Syracuse Police Department's operations and staffing.
The analysis, which outlined recommendations to improve efficiency, found areas in three fields were crucial: Modifying staffing across certain units, developing an approach to mental health calls and working with residents in the community.
The study was commissioned in 2022 by the Syracuse Common Council.
It recommends transferring departmental supervisors who oversee non-criminal police activities into roles where “first-line police supervision is needed” and where “law enforcement training is the primary skillset;” reorganizing or reassigning civilian jobs like crossing guards, and increasing overall civilianization by transferring activities overseen by law enforcement to civilians; and improving tracking of the duties and workload of certain employees and functions.
In reference to staffing, Marion said there is no magic number of officers a police department should have.
The auditor’s priority recommendations are to:
- Implement recommended changes to sworn staffing
- Develop a regional approach to mental health
- Continue to work toward civilianization where appropriate
- Make significant improvements to website and public reporting
- Acquire and implement case management system and establish procedures manual
- Work with Onondaga County to make improvements to 911 prioritization
- Create a city of Syracuse Police Department Civil Service list
- Create a new administrative bureau; reassign non-police functions to other departments
- Address police academy needs
- Create new CSO roles and adjust salaries