REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 30, 2015
FROM: JEFF CARDELL, Director
Personnel Services Department
BY: KEN PHILLIPS, Labor Relations Manager
Personnel Services Department
Sponsor: City Manager, Councilmembers Brand and Brandau
SUBJECT
Title
***Approve a Side Letter of Agreement with the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA), representing Unit 4, Non-Supervisory Police Regarding Lateral Hire Incentives
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the attached Side Letter of Agreement with FPOA which provides hiring incentives for qualified lateral police hires from other California police agencies and incentives for current Fresno Police Officers who refer lateral hires.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In order to achieve hiring goals for police officers, the City and FPOA have tentatively agreed to hiring incentives for lateral hires from other California Police agencies. The attached side letter contains the terms for the agreement including leave and cash incentives upon hire as well as when an individual passes a field training program, probation, and remaining with the Department one year after passing probation. In order to encourage current Officers to assist in the referrals of lateral hires, the side letter also provides an incentive for Officers that coincide with the milestones of the lateral hires (hire, passing field training, passing probation, and one year after probation).
BACKGROUND
In 2008 the Fresno Police Department had approximately 850 sworn police officers to serve a population of 485,000 people. Since that time the population has grown to approximately 520,000. Unfortunately, the increase in population occurred at a time in which General Fund revenues used to support public safety and other essential services declined, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of Police Officers and Firefighters. While the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget funded 717 Police officers, a combinat...
Click here for full text