Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7000 INPORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7000 9 T 1 F4,.* February 12, 1985 �oftoRp To the Mayor and Members of the City Council X Subject: Status of Recruiting Efforts for Police Officers ssa Background Approved in the 1984-85 budget were two police recruit classes, one scheduled to begin in December 1984 and the other scheduled for April, 1985. However, in response to increased criminal activity throughout the City, the City Council authorized an additional recruit class scheduled to begin in August, 1985. The additional class will be funded from salary savings anticipated in the 1984-85 police budget. The purpose of that action is an attempt to bring the Police Department to a full complement of sworn personnel and maintain it on a continuous basis. Impact: That action had a significant impact upon the Police Training Academy and the City Personnel Department. Instead of needing thirty (30) recruits by April, 1985 there needs to be thirty (30) additional recruits by August, 1985. The Personnel Department must recruit 10 applicants for each position in order for the Police Academy to fill one position because of the qualifications required to be a police officer. Therefore, -the Personnel Department needs to recruit at least 600 applicants in an effort to qualify 60 recruits. Once the applicant is recruited it requires the Police Academy approximately six weeks to process the candidates thru the screening procedures. Using this analogy the Personnel Department needs to have approximately 300 candidates recruited by January 15 and an additional 300 by June*15 in order for the Police Academy to do the background investigations, etc. Action Taken to Accomplish Task: The Personnel Department immediately established a special task force to recruit a sufficient number of qualified applicants. Along with the present recruiting staff we assigned temporarily two (2) additional Personnel Analysts from other divisions in the Personnel Department to Police Recruiting. The Police Academy, in an effort to shorten the length of time to process prospective applicants, assigned a second team of investigators, authorized overtime for polygraph tests, made available twenty-two (22) hardship positions, and loaned a uniform officer to the Personnel Department to assist in the recruiting efforts. The Following Activities Have Been Completed: - Distributed letters signed by the City Manager and the Police Chief to all city employees and police officers requesting their assistance in referring potential police applicants to the Personnel Department. - Set up recruiting booth at the self-defense seminar held at the Convention Center. - Set up recruiting booth at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show, January 25-Janaury 31. 0Ph' ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INKORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7000 - p-2 February 12, 1985 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Subject: Status of Recruiting Efforts for Police Officers - Ran ads in several high unemployment areas including Louisiana, Arkansas, and - Placed public service announcements with twelve local radio stations, with emphasis on those who appeal to minorities. - Contacted representatives of the Black National Police Officer Association. (They are distributing our brochures and have invited us to recruit at their National Convention later this year.) - Scheduled speeches at Criminal Justice, Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology classes at several local and state-wide colleges and universities. - On-campus recruiting activities at several local and state-wide colleges and Scheduled out-of-state recruiting trips to Louisiana and Oklahoma. Recruited in military newspapers. Request made to local social, civic and business- leaders for referrals of potential Contact with local union halls. Additional Activities in the Planning Stage: Public service advertisement by a sports personality via television station. Two Job Fairs directed at military bases and military police. Additional advertising on billboards and bus placards. Special mail outs (posters, brochures, letters) to national and community based organizations Message recorder for after hours. The class scheduled to begin April 1, 1985 has twelve (12) trainees approved. Presently, we have twenty-eight (28) candidates ready for the assessment center. It is expected at least ten (10) or twelve (12) of these will be accepted for the class. Provided this is true, there will be twenty-two (22) or twenty-four (24) of the thirty (30) positions needed filled by February 18, 1985. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ^ INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7000 - p.3 February 12, 1985 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council C,* Subject: Status of Recruiting Efforts for Police Officers With the coordinated efforts of the task force team and the Police Academy we anticipate having a sufficient number of applicants recruited, processed, and selected to meet the schedule for the April and August classes. Future Financial Consideration: Due to the overall increase in city-wide recruiting needs and the accelerated effort for recruiting police officer, the Personnel Department's recruiting budget appears to be inadequate for the remainder of the 1984-85 budget year. Therefore, it may require consideration for a special appropriation before year-end in order for the City to meet its recruiting needs. Vernell Sturn� Acting City Manager VS:kc -ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS