HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 01012000 - 2000-392 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on August 15 2000 by the following vote:
AYES: SUPERVISORS GIOIA, UILKLNA, UN. CTAMILLA, AND GERT?ER
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: SUPERVISOR DESAULNIER
ABSTAIN: NONE
SUBJECT: RECRUITMENT PROPOSAL RESOLUTION NO. 20001392
1. R COMM ND TION
Authorize the payment of a "lateral incentive" of $3,000 to each newly hired "lateral
entry" Deputy Sheriff appointed on or after October 1, 2000. The County shall
make the payment of the "lateral incentive" in the first pay warrant to the "lateral
entry" Deputy Sheriff following his or her appointment date. Each appointed
"lateral entry" Deputy Sheriff must at least meet the minimum qualifications for a
"lateral entry" Deputy Sheriff.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT
The additional cost of $3,000 per "lateral hire" is anticipated to cost approximately
$120,000 per year (40 hires). However, the cost will be less as the additional new
hires would immediately be able to impact overtime expenditures. The cost of the
incentive is within the Sheriffs operating budget.
III. BACKGROUNDIREASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDED ACTIONCS)
An extreme shortage of qualified law enforcement candidates exists throughout the
State of California. Almost all agencies in the state are struggling to attract future
peace officers. Though the economy has had an impact on all public sector
employment, law enforcement has been particularly affected. A number of
agencies are now offering or exploring the possibility of various incentives to attract
new hires to the profession.
In Contra Costa County, despite a massive recruiting drive, continuous testing and
streamlined processing, our Deputy Sheriff vacancies continue to grow. The
Sheriffs Office has worked hard to maintain a reasonably constant flow of new
hires. However, positions created by new contracts and increases in existing city
and special district contracts, coupled with a large number of retirements, has
resulted in forty-five (45) Deputy Sheriff vacancies. In addition, fifteen (15)
positrons are currently filled by recruits at the academy, resulting in sixty (60)
Deputy Sheriff vacancies in the Department. The large number of vacancies leads
to higher rates of overtime and officers being forced to work overtime, which can
further exacerbate retention issues.
There are two classifications of Peace Officers hired in Contra Costa County.
Entry level "Recruits" are sent to a 26-week academy for training. "Laterals" are
either current Peace Officers with other agencies or individuals who have recently
completed an academy as an "unattached" cadet and are fully trained and ready to
start work immediately. The hiring of a "lateral" not only saves the six months
required to train a "Recruit," but saves over $20,000 which is paid to the Recruit
during the six-month academy.
RES01
=ON NO. 2000/392
Currently the Sheriff assigns one full-time recruiter just to recruit "lateral"
candidates from academies and other agencies. It is the Sheriff's belief that a
"lateral incentive" of $3,000 would convince a significant number of lateral
candidates to work in Contra Costa County. Accordingly, the Sheriff and Human
Resources Director are proposing to provide an incentive to the lateral candidate in
consideration for the fact that they are hired fully trained.
IV. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION
Failure to aggressively pursue recruiting and retention incentives will continue to
place us at a competitive disadvantage in the peace officer job market. Vacancies
may continue to mount, making it difficult for the Sheriff to provide an acceptable
level of public protection and resulting in mounting overtime costs.
1 rPl)y certify that this is a tnie and correct copy of
ar ..cti tk. :n and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: �1st 15. 2000
PHIL BATC LOR,Clerk of the Board
of Supervis s and County Administrator
nv ,Deputy
Contact: Stacey L. Henderson, 5-1540
Orig. Dept.: Sheriff-Coroner
cc: County Administrator
Human Resources Department
Auditor-Controller
RESOUJT'TON NO. 2000/392