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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-9 Staff Report - Recruitment Incentive for PDCONSENT ITEM E-9 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: ROCKY WENRICK, CHIEF OF POLICE DATE: JANUARY 16, 2024 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR RECRUITING LATERAL POLICE OFFICER OR LATERAL POLICE DISPATCHER BACKGROUND: In the continued effort to recruit lateral police officers and lateral police dispatchers, the Azusa Police Department is proposing to offer a monetary bonus to any existing police department employee who successfully recruits a lateral police officer or dispatcher. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council take the following action: 1)Adopt Resolution No. 2024-C04, approve an incentive payment program rewarding existing employees for their efforts in recruiting lateral police officers and lateral police dispatchers. ANALYSIS: The Police Department currently has a 17.5% vacancy rate for police officer and a 40% vacancy rate for dispatcher positions. Recently, the recruitment of police officers and police dispatchers has become highly competitive as law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California are competing for the same applicants, and retaining qualified candidates is challenging. Although the Azusa Police Department and Human Resources continue to proactively seek a large pool of pre-service (Trainee) candidates, another way to address applicant shortages and find a competitive advantage is to seek lateral applicants. Laterals are current police officers and police dispatchers at other law enforcement agencies who may be interested in seeking employment at a different agency. Often, lateral applicants are seeking new opportunities or may wish to re-locate for various reasons. Lateral police officers and dispatchers bring training and experience, and can be deployed into the field more quickly than Trainees can. Laterals also bring experience and balance to the department. Approved City Council January 16, 2024 Adoption of Employee Incentive for Recruiting Lateral Police Officers and Dispatchers January 16, 2024 Page 2 While the City offers competitive salary and benefits, experience has shown that one of the best recruitment approaches are referrals from existing employees. Existing employees of the police department can vouch for culture, leadership, work environment, and other non-tangible incentives that attract prospective lateral officers and dispatchers. Providing incentive to existing employees to actively recruit applicants offers substantial benefit to the Azusa Police Department’s ability to fill its vacant positions. Azusa Police Department employees who refer a new lateral police officer or lateral dispatcher after January 16, 2024 will be eligible for a $5,000 bonus, paid in two installments. The first payment will be $2,500 upon successful completion of the recruited employee’s required 12-month probationary employment period, and the second $2,500 at 36-months of the Lateral’s consecutive employment. This recruitment incentive will remain active until formally cancelled. FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed funding allocation for this incentive is up to $5,000 to an existing employee over a three- year period per lateral police officer or lateral dispatcher referred and hired after January 16, 2024. Based on the proposed commencement date of the incentive, no incentives will be paid in the current fiscal year. Incentives will be budgeted in subsequent years based on hiring activity. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved: Sergeant Seth Chapman Rocky Wenrick Detective Bureau Supervisor Chief of Police Reviewed and Approved: Reviewed and Approved: Talika M. Johnson Sergio Gonzalez Director of Administrative Services City Manager Attachment: 1. Resolution No. 2024-C04 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-C04 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA TO ESTABLISH AN EMPLOYEE REFERRAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR RECRUITMENT OF LATERAL POLICE OFFICER OR POLICE DISPATCHER WHEREAS, the Azusa Police Department currently has a 17.5% Police Officer and 40% Police Dispatcher vacancy rates; and WHEREAS, Azusa is competing against other law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California for the same qualified sworn and civilian applicants; and WHEREAS, the Police Department and Human Resources continues to work together to attract Laterals, which are current Police Officers and Police Dispatchers at other law enforcement agencies; and WHEREAS, Lateral Police Officers and Dispatchers bring training and experience, can be deployed into the field more quickly than Trainees, and bring experience and balance to the department; and WHEREAS, one of the best recruitment approaches are referrals from existing employees who can vouch for culture, leadership, work environment, and other non-tangible incentives that attract prospective lateral officers and dispatchers; and WHEREAS, providing incentive to existing employees to actively recruit applicants offers substantial benefit to the Azusa Police Department’s ability to fill its vacant positions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Azusa does hereby: Section 1. Establish an Employee Referral Incentive Program for recruitment of Lateral Police Officers and Lateral Police Dispatchers as follows: 1.Effective Date: commences on January 17, 2024 and continues until formally discontinued. 2.Referral Incentive Amount: Azusa Police Department employees who refer a new lateral police officer or lateral dispatcher after January 16, 2024 will be eligible for a $5,000 bonus, paid in two installments. The first payment will be $2,500 upon successful completion of the recruited employee’s required 12-month probationary employment period, and the second $2,500 at 36-months of the Lateral’s consecutive employment. Attachment 1 3. Eligibility: in order to be eligible to receive the referral incentive, existing Azusa police department staff must meet all of the following criteria: a. be in active payroll status at the time the Applicant applies for a Lateral Police Officer or Lateral Police Dispatcher position with the City of Azusa, and b. be specifically named on the Applicants Employment Application as the person who referred them, and c. be in active payroll status at the time the incentive(s) are paid out through payroll. 4. Authorization of Payment(s): the referral incentive shall be a lump sum payment, will be processed through the normal payroll process and shall be considered taxable income subject to withholding. Submission of a Personnel Action Form (PAF) from the Police Department in accordance with the City’s normal payroll cycle will determine date of payment of the incentive. Submission of the PAF should occur no later than one week following the 12- and 36-months dates. ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 16th day of January, 2024. Robert Gonzales, Mayor I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 16th day of January, 2024. AYES: BOARD/COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: BOARD/ COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: BOARD/COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: BOARD/COUNCIL MEMBERS: Jeffery A. Cornejo Jr., City Clerk