Adopt Resolution #21-038 Hiring a Patrol Officer 

The purpose of this case is to request the City Council to hire a Patrol Officer.

Patrol Officers perform responsible police work involving the protection and safety of the community through prevention and control of crime, maintaining or restoring public order, investigating crime, regulating traffic, enforcing laws, and providing emergency services; as well as other related duties as required.

This Recruitment
As part of the 2021 budgeting process, funding was included in the budget for a new Patrol Officer.  Staff conducted a recruitment and a finalist was selected. The finalist participated in and passed the physical agility testing, two interviews, a "shoot/don’t shoot video scenario, an extensive background investigation and a psychological assessment.  All new Patrol Officers are subject to the Law Enforcement Labor Services union contract, including a 1-year probation period.

Subsequent Recruitment
In December 2020, the City Council approved Resolution #20-307 to accept a grant for dedicated DWI enforcement and to authorize an additional Police Officer hire in 2021.  Staff attempted to fill both Patrol Officer openings in the recruitment listed above; however, the candidate pool was not sufficient to hire the second Officer.  Human Resources will begin a second recruitment as soon as possible, which is expected to be this week, with authorization to hire in June and a start date in early July. 

With the added Officer (approved due to the DWI enforcement grant)  the Police Department's sworn officer structure is as follows:  Police Chief (1), Captains (2), Sergeants (4), and Patrol Officers (20), including: 3 Investigators, 1 Drug Task Force Officer, 2 Community Resource Officers and 14 Officers assigned to patrol duty.  This structure totals 29 Police Officers.  It is important to note that the Patrol Officers not currently assigned to patrol duty are fully able to work in that capacity should the need arise.  

Note:   At the time this recruitment was posted, the 2021 contracts were not settled.  As a result, the attached position description lists the 2020 hourly wage.  The wage and required funding shown below reflects the figures for 2021.

The funding required to fill this position has been accounted for in the 2021 budget at $72,617.  However, with a later start date the funding requirement will be approximately $67,239.  

Staff recommends hiring Mr. Matthew Barker as the Police Department's newest Patrol Officer effective on or near April 1, 2021, at step 1 of the 2021 pay scale which is $28.35 per hour. 
 

Motion to adopt resolution #21-038, hiring Mr. Matthew Barker as the Police Department's newest Patrol Officer effective on or near April 1, 2021 at step 1 of the 2021 pay scale which is $28.35 per hour.