12 - Certified Police Officer Hiring IncentiveItem No. 12
TO: City Council
John Godwin, City Manager
FROM: Bob Hundley, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: CERTIFIED OFFICER HIRING INCENTIVE
DATE: May 7, 2018
BACKGROUND: The police department continues to experience difficulties in finding
qualified individuals for officer positions. I would like to attempt a recruitment effort by
allowing for a `hiring incentive' for certified officers. I am proposing a $5000.00 payment for a
certified officer with a minimum of one year of experience. That would be paid out in a series of
payments, $2000.00 payment upon hiring, $1000.00 at the end of the FTO program and the final
$2000.00 upon completing the probationary period. Any money paid into the incentive would be
required to be paid back if the officer leaves the department in the first three years of
employment.
STATUS OF ISSUE: We have given the third entrance examination since November of 2017
with less than stellar results. We have one hire from these tests. We have three openings at
present and are expecting 2 more shortly. Certified officers are in great demand and this may or
may not help fill vacancies. If we garner just one or two good officers, it is worth the effort.
BUDGET: We spend approximately $15,000 for salary alone for a non -certified recruit
attending the 4 %2 month basic police academy. By offering this incentive, we have a shorter
training period, we have an officer who has some experience, and we save roughly $10,000 per
hire.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution.
DRAFT
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
AUTHORIZING THE PARIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PAY A HIRING
INCENTIVE OF $5,000.00 TO PEACE OFFICERS CERTIFIED BY TEXAS
COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT (TCOLE) UPON HIRE FOR THE
POSITION OF PARIS POLICE OFFICER; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Citizens of Paris to have a fully staffed
Police Department; and
WHEREAS, the Police Department has experienced a chronic and long-term staffing
shortage; and
WHEREAS, other recruiting efforts have proven insufficient to achieve full staffing
within the Police Department;
WHEREAS, applicants who are already licensed by the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement as certified Peace Officers are not required to attend basic peace officer
training and can be released from Field Training more quickly, saving the department
approximately $10,000.00 per hire; and
WHEREAS, the Department believes it is in the best interest of the citizens of Paris
to offer a hiring incentive of $5,000.00 to be paid in three installments to Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certified peace officers who are hired as Paris
Police Officers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Paris hereby authorizes the Paris
Police Department to pay a $5,000.00 hiring incentive to hirees for the position of police
officer who hold a Peace Officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement. Said hiring incentive shall be paid in installments as follows: at hire
($2000.00), upon successful completion of the Field Training Program ($1,000.00), and
upon successful completion of the probationary employment period ($2000.00).
SECTION 2. Any officer receiving any such installment payment will be required to
execute a contract providing that he or she be required to re -pay any incentive money
received should his or her employment as a Paris Police Officer terminate before the third
anniversary of his or her initial hire date.
SECTION 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute any documents and
take any necessary action in order to complete the employment contract.
SECTION 4. Should any of the clauses, sentences, paragraphs, sections or parts of
this Resolution be deemed invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of law or
administrative agency with jurisdiction over the matter, such action shall not be construed
to affect any other valid portion of this Resolution.
SECTION 5. This Resolution shall be effective from and after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 9th day of July, 2018.
Steven J. Clifford, M.D., Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney