Starkville Police Department has some familiar faces in new roles following a recent department realignment.
On Aug. 5, SPD had 15 members of its staff change job responsibilities or assignments.
Now leading investigations is Lt. Troy Outlaw, who has worked for SPD since 1994 and is making his second cycle in investigations after making detective sergeant in ”99. Outlaw was promoted to lieutenant in investigations before rotating to patrol lieutenant. He replaces Lt. Mark Ballard, who moved to the administrative support bureau.
Additionally, Lt. Henry Stewart will serve, for the first time, as patrol lieutenant.
“I feel like I”ve had a pretty roundabout career,” Outlaw said. “I”ve been in this position for two years before, so I can step in this time without having to do a whole lot of learning.”
As part of a 20-plus year effort to produce polished, flexible officers and investigators, the SPD cross-trains members of its staff and rotates personnel once every two years.
Officers and investigators of all ranks will eventually serve in all possible positions of patrol, narcotics, investigations, administrative support and community-oriented policing.
This year”s round of rotations was partly sparked by the loss of seven officers to other jobs since the beginning of the year, Lindley said.
“This allows us to put our limited resources where we need them to be according to the priority at the time,” SPD Chief David Lindley said. “But the main idea is to be able to supplement different divisions if need be.
“Some departments embrace this philosophy; some do not,” Lindley added. “Each jurisdiction is different in its needs. But for us, it”s been one of our most successful programs since I”ve been here.”
Though the rotation program has adequately created a well-rounded police force, Lindley is cognizant of the burnout effect officers may experience if they stay in one role too long. Particularly in investigations, where cases are ongoing until they are solved, closed or inactive, work can become monotonous for detectives.
Lindley knows that well after working investigations from 1979-2001, a span he called “way too long” because of the never-ending nature of the position.
“It”s a job that can easily consume you,” Lindley said. “I can empathize with the fact people need to be relieved of that type of continual stress.”
Outlaw is experienced in patrol and investigations, and though he admits the stress is greater in investigations, he said an officer can experience just as much burnout in patrol.
“In patrol, you”re answering the same calls and ticketing speeders,” Outlaw said, “and sometimes you get too comfortable with that. You”re also dealing with rookie officers because that”s where all of them start. In investigations, you”re dealing more experienced people. But the stress of investigations is why I had to come out last time.”
SPD officers can compete for open spots on specialized units by signing up. Candidates for rotation are then selected by where they best fit at the time. In each rotation, there are lesser-tenured officers who are rotated into areas where they haven”t yet served.
Not all officers are rotated at once. Lindley said SPD has its rotation schedule staggered to keep a proportioned level of experience across the board.
“The one thing about chief, he”s very 21st century minded,” Outlaw said. “New officers have new experiences, and the older officers learn how to keep the younger officers motivated. We”re small family here, so it”s good to mix it up.”
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