Home Antioch Antioch Agrees to Increase Lateral Police Officer Hiring to 15

Antioch Agrees to Increase Lateral Police Officer Hiring to 15

by ECT

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Within the Consent Calendar, the Antioch City Council approved a recommendation Tuesday night to increase the hiring of Lateral Police Officers to fifteen.

The move comes after the Antioch Police Department reached its approved number of ten back on February 13 when it brought on six lateral officers. The approval of the Consent Calendar netted no discussion and now allows staff to move forward with more hiring of lateral officers.

On December 27, 2012, the City Council adopted an ordinance returning the 3% @ 50 PERS formula for lateral sworn employees; those already in the retirement system.  The Council increased the number from 5 lateral hires to 10 lateral hires in August 2013.

According to the staff report, despite ongoing and continuous recruitment, the Police Department is still 12-positions short of filling the budgeted compliment of 102 sworn employees. The Police Department is currently at 87 full-time sworn positions. The police department currently is expecting at least 3-additional retirements/resignations before June 30, 2014.

The Police Department recently swore in 6-laterals on February 13 which put them at their authorized staffing of 10-laterals. The department shared that they have additional lateral applicants that Police Management believes would further strengthen the Department and provide the Community with enhanced services. Lateral hires are typically out on the streets independently much more quickly than Trainees, who must complete nearly six month Academy and seventeen weeks of training.

According to the Fiscal Impact in the staff report, the difference in the PERS rates between lateral Officer and Police Trainee is 13.216%, which at salary step c (mid-range) is approximately $960 a month. With the number of vacant positions remaining, the city has savings to cover this increased cost. Additionally, hiring experienced lateral Officers saves the City the expense of paying for the Police Academy.

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