Title
Approval of Change to Police Officer Classification Specification
Body
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Police Officer- advanced entry and academy graduate required education and experience section of the classification specification be amended to include state and federal law enforcement experience in addition to county and municipal agencies.
Staff Contact:
Sergeant Jim Black, Olympia Police Department
Background:
Olympia Police Department has discovered, in the process of actively recruiting advanced entry police candidates, many candidates have state or federal law enforcement agency experience, but cannot apply because the City currently requires county or municipal law enforcement experience. The Criminal Justice Training Center (CJTC) recognizes state and federal law enforcement experience in its equivalency process. Excluding these candidates minimizes the candidate pool at a time when OPD is actively recruiting to fill vacancies.
Findings:
Allowing applicants with state and federal law enforcement experience in the advanced entry and academy graduate categories will broaden the applicant pool and coincide with CJTC's process for equivalency. The reciprocity requirements still apply as determined by CJTC.
Civil Service Rule II - Classification, 2. Specification - provides that a classification will be submitted "to the Commission for adoption." In the current environment, the proposed change will give OPD an increased ability to hire candidates who are ready for field training while still maintaining department background and probationary standards. The Police Guild also agrees with the proposed changes.
Policy Reference:
· RCW 41.12.040, Organization Commission-Secretary-Powers and Duties of Commission, 9.
· Civil Service Rules, Rule II, Classification