Report from the Personnel Committee - April 23, 2013 / Resolution to Accept the Resignation of the Patrol Captain, Direct Staff Begin a Promotional Process, and to Authorize Staff to Recruit for a Replacement Patrol Officer

Earlier this evening the Personnel Committee motioned to recommend approval of this case.

The case was presented as follows:

Accept the Patrol Captain’s Resignation
Mr. Tim Dwyer, the Police Department’s Patrol Captain, submitted a letter of resignation on April 10, 2013. Mr. Dwyer has been with the city of Ramsey for just over 23 years. Mr. Dwyer accepted the Chief of Police position with the City of Cambridge. His last day of employment with the City of Ramsey will be May 3, 2013; although he will be out of the office after April 26, 2013 using vacation time.

Begin a Promotional Process
Police Chief Jim Way will be out of the office on vacation and then at the Chief’s Conference until April 26, 2013. Prior to his departure, Chief Way indicated that he would like the City Council’s approval to begin a promotional process to address the job duties left vacant by the Patrol Captain’s resignation. Per the meeting schedule, May 14, 2013, will be the first regular City Council meeting after the Police Chief returns; at that time the he will be prepared to present his recommendation for the promotional process; as well as maintaining consistency with the City’s “A New Day – A New Beginning” strategic planning process, whereby the Police Chief will also discuss the benefits of having  cross-trained employees (3 Deep) that are familiar with all duties of the captain(s), such as budgeting, administration, patrol, etc.

Recruit for a Patrol Officer
A Patrol Officer recruitment was held in September through October, resulting in the receipt of 140 applications. Staff held 15 interviews and hired 2 Patrol Officers, the first officer was hired in November and filled the position vacated due to a resignation, and the second officer was hired in February and filled the position vacated due to an officer on a long-term extended medical leave. Drawing upon this recruitment file, staff feels confident that there are still interested and viable candidates left in the 125 remaining applicants that were not interviewed. To be sure, staff polled the next 30 highest scoring applicants and found that 20 of the applicants are still interested in the position. If the City Council were to approve a Patrol Officer recruitment from the existing pool of applicants there would be a significant savings to the City; avoiding advertising costs, staff time, and a delay in the hiring process. Aside from the current applicant pool, staff would like the City Council’s approval to invite the Patrol Officer who is currently out on the extended medical leave to apply for the position; subject to his ability to meet the minimum requirements of the Patrol Officer position.

With the Patrol Captain’s resignation, the Police Department will have 21 licensed officers, including the Chief of Police, 1 Captain, 4 Sergeants, 2 Investigators and 13 Patrol Officers. The desired number of licenses officers is 23, with the goal of having 22 officers in 2013 and 23 officers in 2014, subject to  budget considerations.

Alternative: Not begin a promotional process and not hire an officer from the recent recruitment file.

Pros: Short term savings to the City.
Cons: Not beginning a promotional process could create a situation where the City may be ill equipped in the event that the remaining Captain were to take vacation time or become ill.  It would also deny internal advancement within the department and would be a missed opportunity to demonstrate the City’s desire to utilize employees to their fullest potential. Not back-filling with a new Patrol Officer would bring the department to an undesired staffing level. Also, not allowing the use of the recent hiring process for candidates would be a missed savings opportunity. With Captain Dwyer’s departure, the Police department will continue to operate below the number recommended by the Chief

The Personnel Committee recommended approval of resolution 13-04-077 which, upon City Council approval, authorizes staff to do the following:

1) Accept Patrol Captain Tim Dwyer’s resignation.
2) Direct staff to begin a promotional process to address the job duties left vacant by the Patrol Captain’s resignation.
3) Recruit for a Patrol Officer from the recent Patrol Officer recruitment file in order to fill the position left vacant by the promotional process and to invite the Patrol Officer who is currently out on the extended medical leave to apply for the Patrol Officer position; subject to his ability to meet the minimum requirements of the Patrol Officer position within the alloted recruitment time-frame.

There is an annual savings to the City of approximately $28,451 due to the lower salary levels of new officers.

Motion to approve resolution #13-04-077, authorizing staff to to do the following:

1) Accept Patrol Captain Tim Dwyer’s resignation.
2) Direct staff to begin a promotional process to address the job duties left vacant by the Patrol Captain’s resignation.
3) Recruit for a Patrol Officer from the recent Patrol Officer recruitment file in order to fill the position left vacant by the promotional process and to invite the Patrol Officer who is currently out on the extended medical leave to apply for the Patrol Officer position; subject to his ability to meet the minimum requirements of the Patrol Officer position within the allotted recruitment time-frame.