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<br />¿: /t?-/ <br /> <br /> <br />November 14, 2005 <br /> <br />Subject <br />Hiring of Police Officer above entry level <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />The City Council approve the hiring of Police Officer Ashley Osborne at Step 4 rather than <br />entry level. <br /> <br />Background <br />It is difficult to recruit qualified police officer applicants throughout the Bay Area. Virtually <br />all law enforcement agencies in San Mateo County are short staffed and competing with <br />one another for quality candidates. The Redwood City Police Department has typically <br />been very successful at recruiting qualified lateral and other applicants in part because of <br />the department's flexibility in appointing qualified applicants at pay grades above entry <br />level. <br /> <br />Ashley Osborne was a highly-regarded officer for six (6) years in our department who left in <br />good standing six years ago to attend law school. He has worked as an attorney, including <br />a stint as a Deputy District Attorney, since his law school graduation. If hired, we anticipate <br />that he would move more quickly through what would be "re-training" than a typical entry <br />leyel recruit. Hiring him at fourth step recognizes his years of service with us as well as <br />accounting for his years of separation. <br /> <br />Third step is the highest appointment level mentioned in the existing Memorandum of <br />Understanding between the City and the Police Officers Association (Section 7.1.5). Due <br />to the competitive market, the Police Chief is requesting the City Council to exercise its <br />authority under the Redwood City Code Article 111, Section 23.31 (E) - Salary and Wage <br />Plan. The Code permits the City Council to appoint police officers at the fourth step if the <br />appointee for the position of police officer has a minimum of three (3) years of paid full-time <br />law enforcement experience. <br /> <br />Alternative <br />Appointment above entry level is one of several incentives created to attract quality police <br />candidates. City Council could deny the step increase request. <br /> <br />Fiscal Impact <br />Officers hired at Step 1 make $6,147 monthly; Step 4 is currently $7,115. Benefits do not <br />yary between steps. The total fiscal impact is $968 per month. Funds in the Fiscal Year <br />2005-2006 police department budget are sufficient to hire the officer at this salary level. <br />