Butler officials expect to move the police desk sergeants to patrol the city streets beginning Aug. 3.

Mayor Tom Donaldson said he pushed back the change due to vacations in the police department and Butler County Emergency Services.

“We don’t want to make any changes while anyone is away,” Donaldson said. “If there are any glitches, we want everyone available to deal with them.”

The previous date for the change was Wednesday.

The city is handing over the dispatching duties done by the desk sergeants to county emergency services.

Donaldson said the move is being made to get more officers to patrol the streets. The police department has 23 officers.

The city also must install a new phone system at the public safety building and an alarm system for the police evidence room before the switch is made.