The Columbus Police Department is searching for a new assistant chief.
The department went from two assistant chiefs to none when Chief Tony Carleton, who was serving as assistant chief, was promoted and Assistant Chief Joe Johnson retired in June.
During Tuesday night’s meeting of the Columbus City Council, the council approved a new organizational chart for the department that listed one assistant chief, not two.
According to Carleton, the department is accepting applications for assistant chief until July 24.
“We are receiving applications daily and going through background checks as fast as we can,” Carleton said Thursday.
In the chart approved by the council, the CPD will have 82 officers, two animal control officers, one training officers, two crime lab technicians, one work program coordinator, one parking enforcement officer and six civilian employees.
The department currently has 56 officers, according to the city’s human resources department.
Carleton, who has repeatedly stated he wants to hire more officers, said the chart is a long-range plan for the department.
“Our goal is to get to 82 officers,” he said. “However, this will take some time. As our department grows, we will be able to fill this chart.”
He added that the chart is a go-to model of how the department functions.
“The chart will show the public that we have a structure,” he said. “It clarifies a chain of command, identifies roles, who supervises who, provides contact information and orients new employees.”
The new chart is effective immediately.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.