City Administrator Steve Barker said the Marshfield Police Department will add a sergeant rank in the patrol division and a detective rank in the detective bureau as part of a restructuring the department proposed to increase operational clarity and efficiency.

Barker said the change is not expected to increase headcount. Instead, the department would retitle and reorganize existing staff and redistribute administrative duties following the upcoming retirement of Administrative Services Coordinator Lori Crookston. Barker said the plan would allow records specialists and an office coordinator to absorb some duties, with the office coordinator potentially elevated into the administrative services coordinator responsibilities.

Barker told the preview that the Fire and Police Commission has signed off on the plan and that the police union was informed; a side letter to be reviewed during the next contract negotiations will formalize pay and classification effects. He said the reorganization would "save about $65,000" and is intended to make the department more effective during emergencies by clarifying roles and creating a second-in-command beneath the lieutenant.

Barker praised Police Chief Jody Gerink for leading the effort. He said the change is largely an internal reclassification, not an immediate hiring action, and clarified that the sergeant position "is not a union position" but that the side letter will address wages and contract effects.

No formal council vote was recorded in the preview; Barker said council approval will be sought to approve the side letter and the related financial shifts.