AgdaPkt 2004-10-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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_ ' I �� �� To #he H+�norable Ma�t�r and Gity Cou�cll : �ro� �tt�"e �.��► Mana�e�r October 25, 2004 Subject Hiring of Lateral Police Officer above entry level. Recommendation The City Council approve the hiring of Police Officer Ken Cochran at Step 5 rather than entry level. Background Ken Cochran is an officer with the San Carlos Police Department and has served that department for approximately nine years. Lateral applicants are particularly desirable to the Redwood City Police Department in that they have graduated from the police academy, have �eld experience, and can be released as solo police officers approximately six months earlierthan entry level candidates. Lateral officers typically have no difficulty completing probation, further enhancing their value to our organization. The police department is aggressively recruiting these candidates and has previously asked the City Council to approve hiring lateral officers at steps higher than entry level salary. Third step is the highest appointment level mentioned in the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Police Officers Association (Section 7.1.5). The Police Chief is requesting that the City Council exercise its authority under Redwood City Code Chapter 23, Article III, Section 23.31(E) — Salary and Wage Plan. The Code permits the City Council to appoint police officers at the fourth step if the appointee for the position of police officers has a minimum of three (3) years of paid full-time law enforcement experience and the fifth step if the candidate has a minimum of four (4) years experience. Alternative Appointment above entry level is one of several incentives created to attract lateral candidates. The City Council could deny the Police Chiefs request to compensate Officer Cochran at a salary level commensurate with his experience. However, this would make it difficult to attract experienced police officers. Fiscal Impact Officers hired at Step 1 make $5,932 monthly, Step 5 is currently $7,211. Benefits do not vary between steps. The total fiscal impact is $1,279 per month. Funds in the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 police department budget are sufficient to hire the officer at this salary level.