STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-August 23, 2021-The City of Steamboat Springs released the findings from an independent survey investigating the workplace culture of the Steamboat Springs Police Department (SSPD) after concerns arose earlier this year.
“Our employees are our number one priority, and we take all concerns and comments from our staff seriously,” said City Attorney Dan Foote. “The independent survey indicates that the SSPD has made important improvements over the past five years. Although there is room for further improvement, SSPD is on the right track.”
Overall, the survey revealed mostly positive feelings about the SSPD as 78% of those surveyed said they were satisfied with their position. The work environment was described in favorable terms and employees seem generally engaged. The environment at the SSPD has improved since 2015, although opportunities remain to increase engagement and satisfaction.
Some of the top scoring questions highlighted that leadership is doing a good job engaging, command is available when problems arise, and employees feel respected by their supervisors. The representation of women and ethnic diversity increased significantly and an improvement in the standardization of officer conduct was reported.
The survey was interested in understanding the work environmental through the lens of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. While the majority (85%) surveyed had not experienced or observed discrimination or harassment, some participants had reported observing or experiencing discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and the role held within the department. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee will use this data as a multi-year strategic plan is developed.
Like other industries, competitive compensation and housing availability were identified as concerns by staff as well as addressing poor performance quickly and bringing greater cohesiveness between sworn and non-sworn employees.
“It’s gratifying to see the changes implemented creating a more open, diverse and inclusive environment,” stated City Manager Gary Suiter. “While we may not be perfect, like any organization, we strive to continually evolve and advance, and our efforts won’t stop with the completion of this survey.”
The City Attorney’s Office engaged ILG Strategic Services to conduct an in-depth Workplace Assessment for the SSPD to evaluate the work climate, measure the extent of perceived discrimination and harassment present, and set a baseline assessment.
The assessment was conducted between June 9 and June 18, 2021, consisting of a Culture Survey, telephone interviews with leadership and voluntary interviews offered to all participants. Typically, only 30%-40% of employees partake in engagement surveys, however, the SSPD saw a 68% (27 out of 40) participation rate. ILG was initially engaged to conduct the assessment on April 28, 2021.
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Contact
Gary Suiter, City Manager, 970.871.8240 or email
Dan Foote, City Attorney, 970.871.8223 or email
Wendy Kuhlman, HR & Risk Manager, 970.871.8221 or email