The Washougal Police Department (WPD) is adequately staffed, but not operating at peak efficiency and could benefit from a series of schedule shifts and position reallocations, according to the results of a recently completed study.
The city of Washougal commissioned the Portland, Maine-based consulting firm BerryDunn earlier this year to analyze its police department’s staffing levels and needs; review the department’s diversity, hiring, recruiting, attrition rates, serious crimes and crime clearance rates; and examine the patrol work schedule in relation to service needs and demands.
Michele Weinzetl, a law enforcement consultant for BerryDunn, presented the study to Washougal City Council members during a Dec. 4 workshop.
“I really appreciate having our staffing at the police department analyzed, using really good constructive data and intelligent data, not just numbers,” Washougal Councilwoman Molly Coston said. “I’ve known a number of police chiefs in Washougal, and it always seems like they just want more and more and more staff. It’s really nice to see some of these data-driven points. It means that, obviously, (Washougal Police Chief Wendi Steinbronn has) been doing a great job of verifying what we need and where we need (police officers).”
WPD Captain Zane Freschette told The Post-Record this week that the department has already implemented some of the consultants’ suggestions and has “a few more changes on the horizon.”