P.O. Box 3369
Anaheim, CA 92803-
3369
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
POLICE DEPARTMENT
DATE: JULY 18, 2023
FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): NO ITEM # 04
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, By Motion, authorize the Police Department to implement a hiring incentive program to attract qualified police officer candidates through June 30, 2024, in the estimated amount of $750,000.
DISCUSSION:
On December 21, 2021, the City Council authorized the Police Department to accept federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice allowing for the hiring of 20 entry-level police officers in an effort to increase the Department’s community policing and crime prevention efforts. Subsequently, the Police Department and the Human Resources Department have worked on recruitment strategies to increase police officer recruitment efforts. The Anaheim Police Department successfully hired 61 new officers in 2022, however the Department is preparing for an uptick in retirements in 2024. To date, the Police Department has issued $238,000 in incentive payouts to lateral officers, $63,000 to newly hired trainee officers, $8,000 in military veteran incentives, and $29,000 to current employees for referrals.
It is estimated that almost 40 officers will be eligible for retirement in May 2024. This increase in retirements could leave the Department in a large deficit if actions are not taken in 2023 to remedy the situation. The Police Department and the Human Resources Department have worked on recruitment strategies to increase police officer recruitment efforts, such as implementing a streamlined process for lateral applicants, modernizing our background process to include the use of electronic background packages via eSoph background software; and incorporating an aggressive recruitment campaign, not only in person but also online on a variety of social media platforms in order to locate the most qualified candidates possible. In order to address this issue and keep the Anaheim Police Department competitive in recruitment, staff is proposing a continuation of the following three police officer hiring incentives from the date of City Council approval through June 30, 2024 for at least 50 officer positions. The Hiring Incentive program will continue unchanged from the initial program approved by the City Council in 2022 and consists of the following incentives:
Police Department Hiring Incentive Program
July 18, 2023
1. ANAHEIM POLICE DEPARTMENT (APD) HIRING INCENTIVE
Newly hired Lateral Officers would be eligible for an incremental $15,000 incentive payment. The payment will be received in three installments:
The first installment of $5,000 will be paid the first full pay period following the first date of employment
The second installment of $5,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following successful completion of the field training program The third installment of $5,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following successful completion of probation
Newly hired Trainee Officers would be eligible for an incremental $10,000 incentive payment. The payment will be in three installments:
The first installment of $3,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following the first date of employment
The second installment of $3,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following successful completion of the field training program The third installment of $4,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following successful completion of probation
Requirement:
The hiring incentive for laterals and new trainee officers shall be effective after City Council approval and shall only apply to those candidates applying to newly posted recruitments reflecting such incentive.
2. MILITARY VETERAN RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE
The U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant also requires the Police Department to commit to hire a minimum of five military veterans. In order to meet this requirement, staff is proposing an additional $5,000 signing bonus to both lateral and officer trainees who are military veterans.
Requirements:
The Military Veteran must have been honorably discharged from the armed services and submit appropriate documentation
The first installment of $2,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following the first date of employment
The second installment of $3,000 will be paid after the first full pay period following successful completion of the field training program Both lateral and trainee applicants are eligible for the incentive. The incentive for laterals and new trainee officers is effective and shall only apply to those candidates applying to newly posted recruitments reflecting such incentive, occurring after City Council approval.
Police Department Hiring Incentive Program
July 18, 2023
3. REFERRAL INCENTIVE
In order to encourage Police Department employees to assist in the recruitment of police officer candidates, the police department proposes an incentive to enhance our recruitment efforts. Permanent, active, full-time Police Department employees who refer a police officer applicant (lateral or trainee) that is successful in the hiring process, may receive a total of $2,000. The full installment of $2,000 will be paid to the Police Department employee, after the first full pay period following the successful new employee’s hiring.
Requirements:
Eligible Police Department employees shall be permanent, full-time, active Police Department employees and must be in this same status at the time the incentive payment is disbursed
Eligible Police Department employees shall be in good standing with the department and the City, as evidenced by an employee’s personnel file and determined by the Chief of Police
The officer candidate shall clearly indicate the APD employee’s full name and position title on the submitted application. Once submitted, the application shall not be amended to include the referring employee Staff serving in any capacity of recruitment and/or personnel (Police Department) during any period of the application/recruitment process shall not be eligible for the incentive
All of the above proposed incentives are not reportable as compensation to CalPERS and subject to amounts payable under federal, state, and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. Prior to the initial implementation of this program, Human Resources consulted with representatives from the respective bargaining units and received no objection to the above recommendations.
The estimated cost to implement the hiring incentive program is approximately $750,000.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Sufficient funds are available in the Police Department’s Fiscal Year 2023/24 General Fund budget.
Respectfully submitted, Concurred by,
Jorge Cisneros Gretchen R. Beatty
Interim Chief of Police Acting Human Resources Director