Several Mandan city commissioners expressed concern Friday that Dennis Bullinger didn't plan to change the police department if given the job as chief. But the newly appointed top cop in Mandan wants to assure people he has plans for the department.

Bullinger said perhaps he did not interpret the commissioners' question on things to change within the department as commissioners intended, because he said the nature of law enforcement forces changes to be made constantly. However, he said he thinks the department is on the right track.

"I can't think of anything we need to change operations-wise," he said, noting that personnel changes, new programs and technological advancements are inevitable. "Police organizations are always making changes."

Bullinger said his first task as chief will be moving around personnel to fill open positions. He hopes to have a new school resource officer in place by Jan. 1. He also plans to move a patrol sergeant to the investigations division to join the department's two detectives.

Next week, Bullinger plans to talk to city administrator Jim Neubauer about the deputy chief position and a promotions process for filling it. Promoting a lieutenant will open up a sergeant position, and putting a patrol sergeant into investigations will open up a second sergeant position, he said.

The department also has one position to fill by hiring since Bullinger was hired from within the department to fill the chief's position.

Bullinger acknowledged reported morale problems within the department that were discussed during his interviews on Tuesday by explaining a few problems ongoing in the department.

The main problem in the department in recent times has been a shortage of staff, he said. Though the department has a nearly full crew, several officers are still in the department's field training program. Bullinger said it's hard to schedule vacations for officers because of the officer shortage, which increases stress. Officers also take more calls for service because the shifts are understaffed.

Another area of stress in the department, as well as other city departments, may be waiting for a city-wide salary study to be conducted, Bullinger said. He said some officers have left the department over concerns that they would not be able to afford to retire until they were older than they felt comfortable working the streets.

Bullinger hopes the salary study also will assess changing the department's retirement plan, which could help enable officers to retire at a younger age.

Though salary and worker shortages may be parts of a morale problem, Bullinger said he wants to examine other things the department can do to recruit and retain employees.

"We have to look at, not only salaries, but maybe some other things to change if they need to be changed for retention of officers," he said.

One idea already in place is for employees who have gone through the police academy and have college degrees prior to working for the department to move up the pay scale more quickly than new officers with fewer qualifications.

"I think that has helped in attracting applicants," he said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)