I. RECOMMENDATION:
It is the recommendation of the Chief of Police that the City allow the Police Department to sponsor an individual, or individuals, through the academy in an attempt to fill the two vacant Police Officer Positions. A Police Recruit job description would be created for this position which will be brought back for approval at a later date.
II. BACKGROUND:
The Police Department has been actively recruiting in an attempt to fill the 17th and 18th Police Officer positions. Unfortunately, those candidates who have applied have been from out of the area and have backed out at the last minute, or are unable to pass the hiring process.
There have been several inquires from City employees and community members about the Police Department sponsoring another position as it did for Officer Meza.
III. DISCUSSION:
By opening up a Police Recruit (Sponsored) position, it is believed that the City will get applications from local community members who want to get into law enforcement, but are unable to obtain the training on their own, due to either budgetary or time constraints. This will allow the community member, majority who also make it known that they want to work and stay in Coalinga, get around those constraints and give them the ability to work and serve the community they grew up in and live in.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Leave the two open Police Officer positions open to either those who are currently enrolled and attending a POST Certified Police Academy, those who have graduated a POST Certified Police Academy or laterals from other Police Departments who have obtained their Basic POST Certificate.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
If the Council agrees and allows the Police Recruit position to be created and opened, the salary would be about $17,703.062 per cadet. This is based off a salary of $18.3072 per hour, for about 967 hours (The length of time for the average Police Academy). These funds are currently in the police department's budget.
This number will vary depending on the Academy itself and the academic calendar. The Academy would be either the Fresno City College Police Academy, located at the Fresno City College in Fresno, or the Tulare-Kings Counties Basic Police Academy, located at the College of the Sequoias Extension in Hanford.
The Police Department would supply a vehicle for the Police Recruit to travel to and from the academy and all of the needed equipment, ie. gun belt and accessories, academic materials and firearm and ammunition.
Fuel costs are estimated to be around $2,000, depending on the cost of fuel at the time.
Majority of the needed equipment is already owned by the Police Department so equipment costs would be minimal. The Police Recruit would be responsible for the purchase of their academy uniforms, to include uniform pants and shirts, physical training uniforms and boots. | | |