Adopt Resolution #15-01-028 to Hire a Patrol Officer

The purpose of this case is to request the City Council to hire a replacement Patrol Officer.   This position is to replace an officer that was promoted to a Sergeant's position as a result of the back filling in the Police Department due to Chief Way's retirement.  

A recruitment was conducted and staff received 54 applications.   Applicants meeting the necessary training and experience threshold were invited to take part in the City's physical agility fitness testing.  Next, several applicants were interviewed and completed a report writing exercise.  As a result, staff selected five candidates for a second interview which also included a "shoot/don't shoot" video scenario activity.   Three candidates successfully passed this step and were advanced to the background investigations portion of the recruitment process.  Staff selected Ms. Laura Kroll (the city's current Community Service Officer)  as the finalist to be advanced to the psychological assessment and pre-employment screenings.    At this time, staff is recommending Ms. Laura Kroll for the position of Patrol Officer with the City of Ramsey.

With approval to hire Ms. Kroll, the process to backfill the sworn officer positions in the Police Department will be complete and staff will begin a recruitment process to replace the vacant C.S.O position. 

With the City Council's authorization, Ms. Kroll's start date as a new Patrol Officer will be February 1, 2015; this is the same date that other promoted Police Department staff will begin their new roles.   Ms. Laura Kroll, as with all eligible new Patrol Officers, will serve a 1-year probationary period and all personnel policies will apply normally.

All Patrol Officers are covered by the LELS - Patrol Labor Agreement.  At this time, the 2015 labor agreement has not been settled; therefore, the funding requirements have been listed at the 2014 amounts.   Once the labor agreement is settled, any applicable adjustments will be made. 

Option #1: Hiring a fulltime Patrol Officer.  Staff recommends hiring a fulltime Patrol Officer to help fulfill the public safety needs of the City and to meet the goals of the strategic plan as it relates to this position.

Option #2 Not hiring a fulltime Patrol Officer. Staff does not recommend this option due to likely repercussions such as a reduced ability to provide effective and timely public safety, i.e.:delays in response times and decreases in general patrol duties, including traffic enforcement and investigation.  Citizens would not see a squad driving by their residence as often if there are fewer officers on the department patrolling the neighborhoods and businesses. Calls for service have slowly increased as has the population and the City continues to add businesses; Officers are needed to meet the demand.  One of the Council’s strategic goals was to reduce response times, this cannot be accomplished with fewer officers.   Response time is a standard of measure indicated in the Balanced Scorecard for the City.

The funding required for this positions is well within the 2015 budget and is estimated to be a general fund amount of $43,815 (wages only @ 2014 wages) for February through December 2015.

Authorize staff to move ahead with option #1 above to hire Ms. Laura Kroll  as fulltime Patrol Officer, effective February 1, 2015, at $22.98 per hour which is step 1 of the 2014 wage scale.

Motion to adopt resolution #15-01-028, to hire Ms. Laura Kroll as a  fulltime Patrol Officer, effective February 1, 2015 at $22.98 per hour which is step 1 of the 2014 wage scale.