02-05-2008 - Approval of Revised Class Specification for Police Officer0 City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager AGENDA
and City Council ITEM NO. D-6c
FROM: Artie A. Fields, Assistant City Manager/ DATE February 5, 2008
Interim Human Resources Director
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF REVISED CLASS SPECIFICATION
FOR POLICE OFFICER
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the revised class specification for Police
Officer, by adopting the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. ZDQ3- .3 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, REVISING THE CLASS
SPECIFICATION FOR POLICE OFFICER
DISCUSSION:
The current class specification for Police Officer requires that the candidate be at least 21
years of age at time of hire. Staff is recommending that the age limit for Police Officer
Recruit candidates be amended to age 20 '/2 at time of hire, with the provision that the recruit
will turn 21 years of age within 60 days of his/her academy graduation date.
Police Officer recruitment continues to be an industry wide issue. Qualified candidates are
difficult to find across the board. Virtually every police agency is experiencing this current
trend. One of the City's recruitment strategies includes the recruitment of qualified personnel
from police academies. On rare occasion, a qualified candidate will surface at an academy
who is only 20 '/2 years of age. These recruits will either turn 21 while still in the Academy,
or will be 21 within 60 days of the Academy graduation date. Other agencies in the City's
labor market do not require the 21 age limit for recruit candidates, so the potential for an
outstanding candidate to be lost to another agency is very real. The modification of current
City job specification to hire a police officer recruit prior to his/her 21" birthday would allow
the City to be on a level playing field with other agencies seeking quality police officer
recruits.
The Police Officer class specification is attached as Exhibit A.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION REVIEW:
At their Regular Meeting of January 9, 2008, the Human Resources Commission reviewed and
approved the revised class specification for Police Officer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this proposed revised class specification.
Prepared by:
Sharon Gardner
Management Analyst II
Assistant City Manager/
Interim Human Resources Director
Attachments: Resolution
Exhibit A — Revised Class Specification for Police Officer
CC Rev. Class Spec Police Officer 2.5.08
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE REVISED CLASS
SPECIFICATION FOR POLICE OFFICER.
WHEREAS, the City has a desire to increase its recruiting efforts in obtaining well
qualified police officer candidates; and
WHEREAS, amending the age requirement for Police Officer Recruit to 201/z at time of
appointment, with the provision that the candidate turn . 21 years of age within 60 days of
completing the Police Academy, will increase the City's ability to obtain qualified candidates;
and
WHEREAS, the Human Resources Commission, at their Regular Meeting of January 9,
2008, approved the proposed revised class specification for police officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of West Covina does resolve as
follows:
SECTION 1. That the revised class specification for Police Officer attached and marked
as "Exhibit A" is hereby adopted.
SECTION 2. The effective date of this Resolution is February 5, 2008.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED and ADOPTED on this 5th day of February 2008.
Mayor Michael Touhey
ATTEST:
City Clerk Laurie Carrico
I, LAURIE CARRICO, CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California, do hereby certify
that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of West Covina,
California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 5th day of February 2008, by the following
vote_ of the City Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
City Clerk Laurie Carrico
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney Arnold Alvarez-Glasman
CC Rev. Class Spec Police Officer 2.5.08
CITY OF WEST COVINA
POLICE OFFICER
Job Summary
EXHIBIT "A"
CLASSIFIED
CLASS, SPECIFICATION
FEBRUARY 2008
Under general supervision, performs law enforcement duties through assignment to patrol,
motorcycle, investigation, or other special assignments.
Essential Functions
1. Patrols an assigned beat in the prevention of crime and the enforcement of laws and
regulations.
2. Issues traffic citations and warnings.
3. Responds. to dispatched radio messages or telephone instructions and appears at the
scenes of.emergencies, investigations, calls for public assistance, disorder or crimes.
4. Notes and reports traffic hazards, and investigates and prepares reports on accidents,
offenses, and damages to property.
5. Makes arrests for violations of various laws.
6. Prepares reports on arrests and other activities.
7. Impounds vehicles and other property.
8. Directs traffic and intervenes in private or public disputes to protect the public and
maintain order.
9. Appears in court when requested as related to on -duty events.
10. Transports prisoners in vehicles.
11. Investigates complaints from citizens.
12. Interrogates suspicious persons and obtains. information relating to situations,
complaints or case investigations.
13. Makes routine patrols of business and residential areas.
14. May occasionally be called upon to relieve a superior officer and act for him/her.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Knowledge and Abilities
The ability to understand and carry out departmental policies, rules, and instructions; to
understand laws, regulations, police literature and general law enforcement work. The ability
to analyze situations and adopt quick, effective and reasonable reactions. The knowledge and
ability to write clear, concise and accurate reports`, using accurate grammar and vocabulary; to
use good verbal skills and be able to understand verbal directions. The ability to learn the safe
use of
POLICE OFFICER
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Required Knowledge and Abilities (Continued)
firearms and automobiles, and to qualify in pursuit driving after appointment. The ability to
make keen observations and to remember names, faces, and details of incidents.
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Experience and Training Guidelines
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge
and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: , High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certificate. College coursework highly
desirable.
Police Officer Entry Programs
1. Police Officer Recruit Program
To be eligible for employment in the Police Officer Recruit Program, an individual
must have successfully passed a P.O.S.T. certified physical agility examination from an
accredited college or appropriate agency (such as a sheriff's academy). An individual
must successfully complete a P.O.S.T. certified `police academy in order to continue
employment with the City.
2. Pre -Service Trained Program
To be eligible for employment in the Pre -Service Trained Program, an individual:
a. must have successfully completed a P.O.S.T. approved police academy training within
the last thirty-six (36) months; and
b, is not eligible for employment in the Lateral Entry Program.
3. Lateral Entry Program
Shall possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate and be currently employed as a full
time
peace officer for a minimum of 18 months with a California police or sheriffs department
or
the California Highway Patrol.
Special Requirements: Applies to All Entrance Programs
Police Officer Lateral and Police Officer Pre -Service candidates must be twenty-one years of
age at time of appointment. Police Officer Recruit candidates must be 20 '/2 years of age at
time of appointment, with the provision that the candidates will turn 21 years of age within 60
days of their academy graduation date.
Prior to hire, the individual shall be required to successfully pass a background investigation,
'A polygraph examination, a psychological examination, and a physical examination.
License
Must possess and maintain a valid California Class "C" Driver's License.
Working conditions
Must be able to physically restrain and control combative individuals; run, climb, stoop, bend
and reach; work in varied weather conditions; and work shifts (both days and nights as
assigned).
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Police Officer
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Physical standards
Upon offer of employment must pass comprehensive physical. Vision standard is 20/70
uncorrected, 20/30 corrected.
FLSA: Non-exempt
Police Officer January 2008