Hello there,
The reason DPD was closed was after a Departmental review. Overall SAPD is running smoothly over time, in terms of activity, however to gain better stability, the spread of members over four different Departments was causing difficulties in field structure and activity. We tried to use a number of ways to gain better stability for all Departments, employing more staff to different positions, however this did not prove very efficient, especially for DPD. The Command structure was constantly gained and lost, thus making it harder to obtain any activity from regular members who had little guidance in policing.
We then reviewed every Department, and discussed our options. We cannot just close all Departments for 'equality', as Local Departments is what has gained a lot of stability for SAPD. So we decided to make a few divisions unoperational (CRASH, UCHQ, SWAT Semi-Unoperational), then decided we needed to close one Department, for the sake of SAPD as a whole to remain on an equal level.
Assessing the staff and structure of all Departments, at this time the DPD was suffering the most, thus making many people vunerable for demotions without it being their fault, as the entire Department was not operating properly. After discussing this with the DPD Local Command two weeks before hand of the closure, we agreed on the status of the Department, and the reason for closure. It has been a difficult decision to make, however something which will show improvement for the up and coming future, as well as future plans.
We have enforced all Departments to sync with DPD ethics and areas of patrol, this means patrol areas have become the below -
(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9576/57908400.png)
This means, instead of the old structure, where one Department had Country patrol areas for Sheriff roleplay, whilst the rest had City patrol areas to roleplay City police, now all Departments will have the option to roleplay either of them, as well as an expanded patrol area. So whilst this solves issues of manpower per department, this will also add expansion of patrol locations to each Department, as well as giving an official ability of extended roleplay from the patrol areas.
Its something we've discussed for months, and not our priority in options, however has had to be executed to stabilize SAPD even further. Perhaps one day the Department will return, which is why nothing has been deleted, and kept.
To answer your question about its visibility of the File Archive, is that some topics contain Command material, thus not viewable. We do not want to move things around either, and keep them as they were left at the day of closing. Currently there is a bug on the forums where boards cannot be created, but old ones can only be edited. Once this bug is fixed, I am hoping to create a sub-board under the main SAPD board, called memorial, which will have memorable material of the SAPD inside it, for viewing only.
If you would like to retrieve your old desk or shift reports, please contact me.
Adjustment is difficult, but achievable, the recent events have taken a toll on the Command Staff, however we have acted for the benefit for the organization and its members, though not all decisions have been to our liking either, but they have been in the best interest for SAPD itself, and we know improvement to an even better level will be visible soon enough.
Bare with us.
Regards,
Leroy