Sept. 20, 2022
Police Department
DATE: September 20, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Pre-Employment Background Investigations Companies
for Police Department Applicants
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed expenditure of $60,000 per each of the three (3) contracts (for a total combined amount not to exceed $180,000) is included in the Police Department’s approved budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and will be
budgeted for appropriately in Fiscal Years 2023-2024
and 2024-2025. Account string 01191021-400201.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Police Department is requesting approval of
separate contracts with three vendors: James Anthony
Carroll Investigations; Moreland Investigations; and T
Jung Investigations, to conduct pre-employment
background investigations for sworn and non-sworn
Police Department applicants over a three-year term.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE contracts with three vendors: James Anthony
Carroll Investigations; Moreland Investigations; and T
Jung Investigations, for the purpose of providing
background investigations for sworn and non-sworn
Police Department applicants, for a total combined
amount of $180,000, not to exceed $60,000 per vendor,
over the entire three-year contract term of October 1,
2022, through September 30, 2025 – Police Department
(Chief Bisa French 510-621-1802).
AGENDA
REPORT
Sept. 20, 2022
DISCUSSION:
Background investigations are required by the State of California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) for all sworn police personnel and communications dispatchers, including police cadets, police rangers, records specialists and jailers. Additionally, due to the close working relationship of sworn and non-sworn employees, the City of Richmond requires non-sworn staff applicants to also pass the pre-employment background investigation prior to working at the Police Department.
The background investigation assures compliance with all applicable minimum standards for appointment and screens out applicants who, based on their history or other relevant information, are found unsuitable for the position.
Background checks are among the most important investigations an agency will ever conduct. The way a background investigation is conducted can make the difference between hiring an individual who will truly protect and serve, and someone who may cause harm to society, the agency, or themselves. Backgrounds are also among the most challenging investigations to conduct. They must be comprehensive if they are to lead to informed hiring decisions. Past misconduct and other signs of unsuitability must be uncovered so that dangerous or otherwise unfit candidates are screened out. At the same time, inquiries into past performance must stay within the tight parameters of fair employment practices. The areas investigated, and the evaluation of them, must be treated consistently across all candidates. The inquiries and evaluations in background investigations must be based on candidate behaviors that have a direct relationship to the requirements and demands of the position, and they must do so with consistency and without bias.
In the past, Richmond Police Department has conducted its own background investigations; however, in-house background investigations are not only costly (due to union-required overtime pay), but continuing to do so would also keep the already short- staffed sworn officers in the office instead of on patrol. Therefore, the Richmond Police Department staff put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) in June 2022 to find a worthy vendor. Six bid responses were received, but only three vendors met the RFP’s minimum qualifications. The three qualifying vendors were selected to be used on a priority basis due to the fact that suitable candidates can be offered positions with other departments if Richmond’s background investigation takes too long.
RECOMMENDATION:
Due to the cost, lack of availability of in-house resources, and urgency to hire candidates in reasonable timeframes, the Richmond Police Department staff recommends that City Council approve three-year contracts with each of the three vendors for an amount not to exceed $60,000 per vendor, for a total combined amount of $180,000, over the entire contract term.
Sept. 20, 2022
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – James Anthony Carroll Investigations Contract Attachment 2 – Moreland Investigations Contract
Attachment 3 – T Jung Investigations Contract
Attachment 4 – RFP
Attachment 5 – RFP Response Grid
Attachment 6 – RFP Rating Matrix