PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request City Council adoption of a resolution revising the salary and schedule for the classification of Police Recruit CTC No. 0653 to 62 U 1275 ($3,866), retroactive to July 1, 2004 and to provide a mechanism for future adjustments by tying the salary of the Police Recruit to 90% of the salary range of a Police Officer.

BACKGROUND

Applicants for the position of Police Officer are initially hired as Police Recruits. Upon successful completion of the initial Police Academy (16-week training), these recruits are promoted to the rank of Police Officer.  In January, 2002, a resolution was adopted that adjusted the Police Recruit salary annually based on a five-City (Glendale, Pasadena, Inglewood, Santa Monica, and Torrance) survey.  However, staff has learned that this process can create a skewed salary relationship between Police Recruit and Police Officer, as the Police Officer salary is not necessarily adjusted each year using this survey.  To remedy this situation, the proposed resolution will create a mechanism which will tie the salary of the Police Recruit to the salary range of Police Officer.

ANALYSIS & CONCLUSION

Currently, as a result of increases applied over the past couple of years to the classification of Police Recruit and the lack of the same increases to the classification of Police Officer, the salary of the Police Recruit is now at a fixed rate of $4,411/month, which is higher than the entry level salary of a Police Officer ($4,295/month).

By tying the salary of Police Recruit to that of Police Officer, this anomaly will be eliminated.  This will also create a mechanism which will allow the Police Recruit salary to be adjusted at the same time as a Police Officer which will maintain the appropriate level of compensation for the City�s entry level Police Officer position.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed salary for Police Recruit was established at 90% of the Police Officer�s current salary range.  Thus, the proposed salary will be set at a fixed $3,866/month.  Any current incumbents in the classification of Police Recruit will be �Y� rated at the current fixed salary of $4,411 for the remainder of their 16-week training period.

This change will result in a slight salary savings for the Police Department.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the salary and schedule for the classification of Police Recruit CTC No. 0653 be revised as proposed.

Respectfully submitted,

Judie Sarquiz

Management Services Director

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