Report Prepared by: Steven Stanfield, Chief of Police, Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Authorization to Amend the Approved Police Budget/Personnel Allocation by Deleting (2) Crime Analyst Positions and adding (2) Crime Analyst I/Crime Analyst II; and Approve Related Job Descriptions and Salary Ranges for Crime Analyst I and Crime Analyst II
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers adopting a resolution adopting salary ranges for Crime Analyst I and Crime Analyst II. Amending the personnel allocation by deleting two Crime Analyst positions and creating new positions of Crime Analyst I and Crime Analyst II. Staffing will remain at two Crime Analyst I/II positions (one at Crime Analyst 1 and the other at Crime Analyst II.)
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Adopting Resolution 2025-63, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, adopting the Salary Range for the Crime Analyst I and Crime Analyst II positions within the Police Department; and,
B. Approving the deletion of two Crime Analyst positions and adding two Crime Analyst I/Crime Analyst II positions.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended; or
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion; or
3. Deny; or
4. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Article VII, Section 710; and as recommended by the City of Merced Personnel Board at their meeting of September 8, 2025.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-2026 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
As the department continues to grow and transition into a more data driven, intelligence led policing model, we are expanding the roles of our Crime Analysts. We currently have two full time Crime Analysts who collaborate with several other Analysts throughout the state. As we continue to grow our city, we see the need to prepare for growth within the Crime Analyst ranks. With the new separation between Crime Analyst I and II the unit can have their own supervision within their classification as the Crime Analyst II is a supervisory position.
The new classification separation would also provide the department with a dedicated employee responsible to be searching for and managing grant opportunities that become available. The Crime Analyst II position will be responsible for maintaining all grants acquired by the agency. This means all grant data will be properly maintained and the responsibility of the Crime Analyst II.
Data driven policing has the potential to make our department much more efficient and does not require any additional sworn staff to direct. The request is to take our current position allocation of two (2) Crime Analysts and transition them into two with (1) Crime Analyst I (salary to remain the same) and one (1) Crime Analyst II (salary to match existing Management Analyst position) to better position our department for the future through intelligence led policing. This job classification has been approved through the Personnel Board.
For budgeting purposes, the positions will be reflected as two (2) Crime Analyst I/II positions with one position staffed at Crime Analyst I and the other at Crime Analyst II.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No additional appropriation is needed. The Crime Analyst I (step 5) is estimated to cost $136,043 annually. The Crime Analyst II is estimated to cost $140,323 annually. The approved police budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year is sufficient to absorb the minimal cost of the difference in salary for the Crime Analyst II which is estimated to be less than $4,280 for the fiscal year.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2025-63
2. Exhibit A -Crime Analyst I & II Salary Schedules
3. Exhibit B -Crime Analyst I Job Description
4. Exhibit C -Crime Analyst II Job Description