A reshuffling of the city of Pittsburgh's police command staff under new Mayor Bob O'Connor is drawing mixed reviews from community groups and City Council members.

All zones are getting new commanders, allowing some lieutenants who are now acting commanders to return to the field, mayoral spokesman Dick Skrinjar said yesterday. He said the changes "streamline the operation and improve service."

He said the shifts were recommended by acting Chief Earl Woodyard Jr., who will stand down for new Chief Dominic Costa Monday, when most of the changes take effect.

"The new chief coming in was consulted by Earl and he deferred to Earl's recommendations," Mr. Skrinjar said. "The mayor is OK with those changes."

Neither acting Chief Woodyard nor Mr. Costa could be reached for comment.

One move immediately drew neighborhood fire: the shift of Cmdr. Paul Donaldson from Zone 2, which includes Downtown, the Hill District and Lawrenceville, to Zone 4, covering Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and Hazelwood.

Residents "have a trust in Paul Donaldson," said Tony Ceoffe, director of the community group Lawrenceville United, which has worked with him on prosecuting property crimes and shootings.

"This is what Bob O'Connor ran on, and what he got elected for -- putting communities together with public safety in a partnership -- and we're there," he said. "Why should we have to sit here for the next year and try to build new relationships?"

"I've gotten a lot of calls from community groups" that want to keep Cmdr. Donaldson in Zone 2, said City Councilman Len Bodack, who represents Lawrenceville. "Nobody consulted me" prior to ordering the changes, he said.

Mr. Skrinjar said the decisions were made Friday afternoon and there was no time to inform council.

Watch Cmdr. Cheryl Doubt will take over Zone 2.

Cmdr. RaShall Brackney will shift from Zone 5, which includes Bloomfield, East Liberty and Homewood, to Zone 3, covering the city's southern and western neighborhoods. Replacing her will be Cmdr. Linda Rosato-Barone, who is now in the chief's office.

City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, whose district overlaps Zone 5, said she was optimistic about that move, saying her relations with Cmdr. Brackney were no better than "cordial."

"I'm hoping that [with] Cmdr. [Rosato-] Barone, I'll have a better working relationship," she said.

Cmdr. Brackney, who lives in Zone 5, said Ms. Carlisle made public statements urging her transfer.

"I would hope someone wouldn't undermine their community for personal gain," Cmdr. Brackney said.

Violent crime in Zone 5 from last January through November was down 8 percent compared with the year before. That came on the heels of a 4 percent drop in 2004, compared with 2003, she said.

Ms. Carlisle said she wasn't involved in the decisions, though she is chairwoman of council's Public Safety Committee.

"I haven't had any dialogue with Mayor O'Connor in reference to some of the changes he's making in Public Safety," she said, except for a Jan. 4 session the mayor had with council members.

Major crimes Cmdr. Maurita Bryant will trade places with narcotics Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki.

On Feb. 6, Watch Cmdr. Kathy Degler will become commander of Zone 1, which covers the North Side.

There are no immediate plans to name new watch commanders, Mr. Skrinjar said.

He said there will be no change in the role of Cmdr. Catherine McNeilly, who is responsible for research, intelligence and crime analysis. She is the wife of former Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr., who was dismissed by Mr. O'Connor.

There will be no immediate change in the roles of Deputy Chief William Mullen or Assistant Chiefs Woodyard, Nate Harper and Regina McDonald.