Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Recruitment and Hiring Incentive Policy for Lateral Police Officers in the Alameda Police Department. (Human Resources 2510)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Police Department and Human Resources have worked collaboratively since 2017 to significantly increase police officer recruitment activity, including offering hiring incentives approved by City Council in the Recruitment and Hiring Incentive Policy for Lateral Police Officers and accepting new applications on a continuous basis. Despite these efforts, the department still has nine sworn officer vacancies due to a persistent loss of sworn staff from retirements and lateral transfers. In response to severe recruitment challenges, the Alameda Police Department would like to increase the incentive award for hiring police officer laterals by offering a hiring bonus worth up to $30,000 paid out over the course of two years. Nearby jurisdictions such as Fremont, San Mateo, and Palo Alto are offering similar incentives. The department would also like to reduce the 24-month probationary period for lateral candidates to 12 months, expand the employee referral incentive program to all City of Alameda (City) employees, and provide a $1,000 cash bonus option. The department expects the cost of each hiring bonus to be absorbed by its current budget. By hiring a lateral police officer, the Department would be relieved of the cost of a police academy sponsorship, which amounts to a savings of $44,000. This savings would be offset by the cost of bonuses for each new lateral hire.
BACKGROUND
Since 2017, in response to severe recruitment challenges, the Alameda Police Department and Human Resources have worked collaboratively to significantly increase police officer recruitment activity. One of the actions taken was to establish the Recruitment and Hiring Incentive Policy for Lateral Police Officers. This incentive program,...
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