Fiscal Note
The total maximum cost of these 6 additional officers in 2009 is $233,852 and is not included in the 2009 Operating Budget. Retention of these permanent positions is contingent upon receipt of funding through the COPS program.
Title
Authorizing the Police Department to hire 6 additional officers in May, 2009, and increasing the Police Department's authorized police officer positions by six, contingent upon the receipt of a COPS Hiring grant.
Body
WHEREAS, on February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and,
WHEREAS, this legislation provides significant funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office to award COPS Hiring Recover Program (CHRP) grants to law enforcement agencies nationwide; and,
WHEREAS, these grants will provide funding for costs of salary and benefits for entry-level commissioned law enforcement officers; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Police Department plans to submit a request for funding for a total of 20 additional officer positions (which includes the 6 requested in this resolution) under the terms of this grant; and,
WHEREAS the annual Pre-Service Training Academy begins in May, 2009, but will not provide officers available for assignment until February, 2010; and,
WHEREAS, due to the retirement and/or resignation of commissioned staff, the Police Department currently has 15 police officer vacancies; and,
WHEREAS, based upon prior year resignations, projections indicate an additional six positions will be vacated prior to shift change in 2010; and,
WHEREAS there are 60 commissioned officers eligible for retirement during the next year, which could leave a significant number of vacancies that would not be filled with fully trained officers available for assignment until February, 2011; and,
WHEREAS the Madison Police Department has evaluated the impact of these vacancies on staffing levels and has considerable concerns about maintaining appropriate levels of service in the event that a number of officers are unavailable for assignment; and,
WHEREAS training additional recruits in 2009 would help to decrease the impact of unfilled assignments in February 2010; and,
WHEREAS, the cost for six officer positions with the MPD in 2009 will be $233,852, which is not included in the 2009 Operating Budget.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Police Department is authorized to hire 6 police additional police officers in May 2009.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that retention of these positions as permanent positions in the Madison Police Department will be contingent upon receipt of funding through the COPS program.