An arbitrator praised Denver Police Chief Robert White's new staffing plan that has officers working in teams with their supervisors, saying it has improved productivity and allowed officers to become more familiar with the areas they patrol.

The commentary came in a ruling this month denying police union leaders a grievance that claimed White's "team concept" violates their contract because it forces them to choose vacation days based on seniority within their team rather than within their patrol district.

"The Chief was clearly acting within the authority reserved to him ... to reorganize the department," arbitrator Harry N. MacLean wrote in the decision. "The new team models are sound and unquestionably beneficial."

Although their grievance was related only to vacation days, union leaders have sharply criticized the pace of White's move to the team concept and his shifting of police district boundary lines, saying the changes have delayed response times and put officers in harm's way.

But the arbitration board, which heard testimony from police officials and rank-and-file officers alike, said the change has made the department more efficient. Officers are more accountable because they work more regularly with supervisors who can evaluate their efforts, MacLean wrote.


"Importantly from the public's point of view, the same officers are working their areas allowing for more familiarity and better communication," the ruling said. "Officers have also benefitted from consistency in their supervision and evaluations and in the ability to make long range plans."

MacLean's comments reflect how the team concept should ideally work, but short-staffing means the reality is much different, union president Nick Rogers said. The department's ranks have shrunk because of departures and budget cuts that have kept it from hiring since 2008.

The department is mismanaging its limited resources, he said.

"No one stays in their precinct. The precincts were made so much wider, they'll go anywhere in the district. They'll answer calls from border to border, which is totally contrary to community policing," Rogers said.

"They're going from call to call to call. They don't have time to do anything but handle radio calls."

The union disagrees with the arbitrator's interpretation of its contract, but the decision is binding.

White said he was "elated" by the decision as it validates his efforts and allows him to move forward with his reorganization.

"We're directing how our resources are allocated much more effectively than we have in the past," White said. Of the team concept, he added, "The advantages far, far outweigh the drawbacks."

Sadie Gurman: 303-954-1661, or