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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020-24 Resolution - 2020-24 Lateral-entry law enforcement officer a signing bonus - 10/6/2020City of East Wenatchee Resolution 2020-24 Page 1 of 3 Retain Resolution until no longer needed for City-business, then transfer to Washington State Archives (GS50-05A-16 Rev. 1) City of East Wenatchee, Washington Resolution No. 2020-24 A Resolution of the City of East Wenatchee, Washington authorizing the Chief of Police to offer a candidate for a position as a lateral-entry law enforcement officer a signing bonus not to exceed $5,000.00. 1. Alternate format. 1.1. Para leer este documento en otro formato (español, Braille, leer en voz alta, etc.), póngase en contacto con el vendedor de la ciudad al alternateformat@east-wenatchee.com, al (509) 884-9515 o al 711 (TTY). 1.2. To read this document in an alternate format (Spanish, Braille, read aloud, etc.), please contact the City Clerk at alternateformat@east- wenatchee.com, at (509) 884-9515, or at 711 (TTY). 2. Authority. 2.1. RCW 35A.11.020 and RCW 35A.24.190 authorize the City Council to organize and regulate its internal affairs and to define the powers, functions and duties of its officers and employees. 3. Recitals. 3.1. The East Wenatchee Police Department senses a crisis in its ability to recruit new officers, and to hold on to the ones it has. 3.2. Fewer individuals are applying to become police officers, and more people are leaving the profession. These trends are occurring even as many police departments are already short-staffed and facing challenges in developing a diverse workforce. 3.3. The Police Department is facing more competition in hiring. This competition comes from law enforcement agencies and from the overall labor market. 3.4. An important factor complicating the situation is the fact that the work of policing itself is changing. The work of police officers is becoming more challenging. 3.5. Furthermore, today’s police officers increasingly are being asked to deal with social problems, such as untreated mental illness, City of East Wenatchee Resolution 2020-24 Page 2 of 3 Retain Resolution until no longer needed for City-business, then transfer to Washington State Archives (GS50-05A-16 Rev. 1) substance abuse, and homelessness. As a result, the skills, temperament, and life experiences needed to succeed as an officer are becoming more complex. 3.6. The Police Department wishes to attract highly qualified applicants. 3.7. To attract highly qualified applicants, the Police Department needs the flexibility to offer a candidate for a position as a lateral- entry law enforcement officer a financial incentive to choose the East Wenatchee Police Department over competing law enforcement agencies. 3.8. Teamsters Local 760 has represented to the City that pre- employment matters are not a subject that need to be bargaining for. 3.9. Given the factors set forth above, it is in the best interests of the City to allow the Chief of Police the discretion to offer a signing bonus to a candidate for a position as a lateral-entry law enforcement officer. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: 4. Authorization to Offer a Signing Bonus. The City Council authorizes the Chief of Police to offer a candidate for a lateral-entry law enforcement officer position a signing bonus of up to $5,000.00. 5. Authorization of Execute a Signing Bonus Agreement. The City Council authorizes the Mayor to execute a Signing Bonus Agreement, approved as to form by the City Attorney, with a candidate in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00. 6. Repayment. The Signing Bonus Agreement must include a clause that requires a candidate to repay the signing bonus if he or she does not complete at least two years of service with the East Wenatchee Police Department. 7. Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision in this resolution to be contrary to law, such declaration shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Resolution.