Departments

The city government of Pawnee consists of many Departments, several of their offices being located in the Pawnee City Hall building.

List of Departments

Parks and Recreation Department

The Parks and Recreation Department deals with both indoor and outdoor circumstances throughout the city of Pawnee, including park renovations, disturbances of nature, festivals, and more. The department had been run by the former Director, Ron Swanson, and his Deputy, Leslie Knope, before Craig Middlebrooks got the job after Ron's leaving in 2014.

Police Department

The Police Department is responsible for protecting Pawnee against criminal activity. The department answers to the City Manager. It is ran by the Department head in City Hall, as well as being ran more practically by the Chief of Police. The rest of the department is made up of the police force. Brad Burke heads the department, and Hugh Trumple is the Chief of Police until his retirement in 2012. Dave Sanderson interviewed for the job, although it is unknown whether or not he got the position. The officers of Pawnee tend to speak in a descriptive, police-like manner, even in matters unrelated to their work. They also tend to be jumpy, especially when pulling things out of your pocket.

Fire Department

The Fire Department helps protect Pawnee against fires. The Fire Chief is Al Connor.

Sewage Department

The Sewage Department, nicknamed "the toilet party", deals with Pawnee's sewage system. It is unknown, who the current head is. The department was formerly run by Joe Fantringham, who was fired for e-mailing a photo of his genitals to every woman at City Hall.

Library Department

The Library Department is the worst and most pointless department in the city of Pawnee. It has been condemned to hell and has no point in existence. In Leslie Knope's 2012 campaign for city Council, she vowed to devolve this department, but had failed to after being re-called. On top of this, former Director of Parks and Recreation Department Ron Swanson was once married to the Deputy Director of Library Department, Tammy Swanson II, whom he compares to devil on many occasions.

Education Department

The Education Department is led by mother of Leslie Knope - Marlene Griggs-Knope.

Public Works Department

Its director was John until the department was closed in the Fourth Season - all of its projects were cancelled due to budget cuts. (Campaign ad)

Health Department

Ann Perkins is the current Public Relations Director of the Health Department. The former Public Relations Director was Dennis Cooper, who was fired by Chris Traeger for hanging posters around City Hall to publicly condemn his adulterous wife, Jan Cooper. The former Director of Public Health is Walt Morphling, who had to retire at 46 because he had diabetes.

City Council

The City Council is the governing panel of Pawnee, and votes on proposed laws and actions for the City. It answers directly to the Mayor, and oversees most of City Hall's departments both directly (e.g. City Planning Department) and indirectly (e.g. Education Department, overseen by the City Manager, who answers to the City Council). It is made up of five seats, each seat being taken by a councillor from one of the districts of Pawnee, as voted for by it's citizens.

City Manager's Office

The City Manager's Office is responsible for the general running of City Hall, and oversees most of the departments that directly provide public services (Transportation, Education, Library, etcetera). It is made up of the City Manager (appointed by the City Council), the Assistant City Manager (appointed by the City Manager), and any personal assistants either may have. Paul Laresco was the City Manager until he had a heart attack, when he was replaced by Chris Traeger. He held the position until he moved to Michigan with Ann Perkins, being replaced by Ben Wyatt. The position of Assistant City Manager is only known to have been held by Ben Wyatt, until he resigned in disgrace after he and Leslie Knope were tried for having an inter-office relationship.

City Mayor's Office

The City Mayor's Office is the highest governmental entity in Pawnee, being responsible for the entirety of City Hall. It operates through it's directly subordinate departments, namely the City Council, Treasurer, and Clerk. It is made up of the Mayor and his assistants. Officially the Mayor has significant control over the city, being the chairman of the council and overseer of the entire government, but is not seen to effect many significant acts during Parks and Recreation, and mostly acts as a symbolic figurehead, being considered a ceremonial role. However the Mayor appears to have some active influence, mainly ensuring that members of the Government act in accordance with the laws and political standard found in Pawnee, for example by censuring deviant subordinates (as they do to Leslie Knope for teaching comprehensive sex education to Pawnee's seniors, which violates Pawnee's abstinence-only education law). The position is held by Walter Gunderson until his death in 2017, when Garry Gergich is made the temporary mayor by the City Manager Ben Wyatt. He is then elected as the official Mayor of Pawnee after a sudden and rapid letter-writing campaign. The only known assistant to the Mayor is Evelyn Roushland, who acts as a Mayoral Representative for Leslie Knope in "The Possum".

Animal Control

Animal Control isn't considered one of the most effective branches of government. Its employees are often referred to as "burned out morons", including Eugene, Harris, and Brett. It was absorbed into Parks and Recreation Department because of the very low budget - it was April Ludgate's idea, who becomes Deputy Director of this new branch (Animal Control).

City Planning Department

The City Planning Department is responsible for approving planning applications, ensuring all construction plans are in line with Indiana's Building Codes, and organising Pawnees infrastructural development. It's repeatedly referenced that progress is slow within the department, and that their main role is to enforce rigid building codes. The department answers directly to the City Council. The former City Planner is Mark Brendanawicz, who left his position to pursue a job with Norton Construction.

Park Rangers

The Park Rangers are in charge of keeping the parks safe for the citizens of Pawnee. It's the former workplace of Jerry Gergich before the events of Parks and Recreation. One of the current Park Rangers is Carl Lorthner, who made his appearance in Park Safety.

Ron Swanson becomes the Superintendent of Pawnee National Park in 2025 (One Last Ride).

Departmental Events

New Mural Competition

After the "Spirit of Pawnee" mural (located in City Hall) is vandalized, each department is asked to propose a new mural to hang in its place in the episode "The Camel". In the end, the town decides to not spend any money on a new mural and instead renames the original mural "The Diversity Express".

The Battle Royale

The Battle Royale is an annual debate where all of the departments come together and argue over funding and where the money should be spent. In "Ron and Tammys", in an attempt to win, Leslie has her department write reasons why the other departments "suck" and don't deserve the money.