I. RECOMMENDATION:
It is the recommendation of the Chief of Police that Council authorize sponsorship for up to two (2) City of Coalinga residents for Police Recruit Sponsorship Program within the current staffing levels.
II. BACKGROUND:
The Council previously approved a Police Recruit Program and staff have made some modifications to ensure that all costs and FLSA requirements are met while in the academy.
Basic Program Overview:
1. Open only to City of Coalinga residents age 21 or older;
2. Priority given to honorably discharged military veterans';
3. Preference given to residents’ bilingual in English and Spanish;
4. Recruits will be considered part-time, temporary employees while in the police academy;
5. Recruits hourly rate will be $21;
6. Recruit may be permitted to use a city vehicle to commute to and from academy if one is available (travel time is unpaid);
7. Interested residents must apply and successfully complete an oral board interview, chief’s interview, polygraph, background check, psych evaluation and drug screen in order to be selected;
8. Recruit would be responsible for the purchase of their academy uniforms, to include uniform pants and shirts, physical training uniforms and boots.
This program has been successful in the past, sponsoring City employees through the academy, who are now full-time Police Officers.
III. DISCUSSION:
The City currently has three (3) Police Officer vacancies and anticipating losing two more officers shortly, as they are currently in backgrounds with other agencies. Staff is again seeking an opportunity to sponsor up to two (2) Police Recruits from within the community.
This Police Recruit Program would follow the guidelines as listed above. This program has been successful in the past, sponsoring residents of the city through the academy, who are now full-time Police Officers
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Do not approve (not recommended).
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The Police Recruit hourly rate would be set at $21 and, after successful completion of the police academy and upon a full-time Police Officer vacancy, the police recruit would be promoted to a full-time police officer and moved to the entry officer pay scale. Based off prior Recruit positions, the average number of hours would be around 960, with another 450 hours of overtime. Based off $21 per hour, with full time benefits, the salary would cost about $45,600.
The Police Department would supply all required equipment needed to attend the police academy, i.e. duty belt and accessories, academic materials, firearm, ammunition, and the academic fees would be supplied by the police department. Much of the equipment is already owned by the Police Department so equipment costs would be minimal, roughly $1,000 per Recruit.
Depending on which academy, Fresno or Hanford, the cost of fuel can vary from between $3,800 and $5,500 depending on the mileage to the academy. This is based off a vehicle getting on average, 25mpg with gas rates at $7 per gallon.
This cost will be covered by the savings of the vacant position until the Recruit graduates the academy and becomes a full-time. |