(a)
There shall be two methods for original appointment of police officers to the Division of Police: civil service examination with placement on the certified eligible list and lateral hire. In either case, candidates must conform to certain minimum qualifications of the City of Lakewood Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
(1) Civil service examination process. Applicants are required to complete a written examination as well as a physical agility test. The Civil Service Commission shall certify the names in accordance with its rules and regulations.
Candidates appointed to police officer through these procedures will be hired at Grade III first year and must successfully complete an eighteen-month probationary period or as otherwise provided by the collective bargaining agreement.
(2) Lateral hire process. Applicants will submit an employment application as well as a current certificate of physical agility to the Department of Human Resources.
In addition, candidates must conform to all the minimum requirements of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations and all applicants for lateral hire shall meet the following prerequisites:
A. An applicant must currently or have previously been employed as a peace officer;
B. An applicant must be OPOTA certified;
C. For applicants previously employed, there shall be no more than a one-year break in service from previous employment as a peace officer;
D. An applicant's current or previous peace officer employment must have been as a result of a civil service examination process.
The Police Chief, in conjunction with the Director of Human Resources and the Public Safety Director, will review resumes and applications to determine which applicants meet the lateral entry criteria. Lateral entry candidates may be required to submit to the following, including but not limited to, a thorough background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological and medical evaluation, oral interview and drug screening.
Positions filled through these procedures are therefore exempt from competitive examination.
Candidates appointed to police officer through these procedures must successfully complete an 18-month probationary period or as otherwise provided by the collective bargaining agreement.
Patrol Officer Grade Classification, for lateral entry police officers will be credited based on prior civil service in the position of police officer. Lateral entry police officers shall receive one year credit for prior service for each two full years of prior service for purposes of seniority. In no event shall a lateral entry police officer receive more than three years credit with the City of Lakewood.
Employees selected through these procedures shall obtain and retain all other rights attributed to the classified service, following successful completion of the probationary period.
(3) The percentage of lateral entry patrol officers hired shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of the hires made from the Civil Service Entry Level Certified Eligible List during the preceding rolling twelve (12) month period.
(4) If a layoff list exists, then the appointment will be subject to the City Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
(5) The Civil Service Commission is authorized to promulgate rules and procedures for the administration of the test and selection methodology of both methods of original appointment not inconsistent with this section.
(b) Subsection (a) hereof is specifically intended to supersede State Code for original appointments to patrol officer positions in the Division of Police.
(Ord. 37-2021. Passed 11-15-21; Ord. 12-2023. Passed 5-15-23.)