Interim Chief Brad Rasmussen made the presentation to the newly seated council, including new Council members Stacey Mattina and Tom Engstrom. Engstrom is the retired city police chief and formerly Rasmussen's boss.
Rasmussen asked the council to adopt two resolutions – one to authorize the job description and salary
range for a “designated” level one reserve officer, and the second to authorize the position of designated level one reserve officer within the police department.
He explained that a designated level one reserve officer can only be appointed if it's authorized under a city council resolution, which the city didn't have at that point.
Such designated level one reserves have the same duties and powers of full-time peace officers at all times – even when not on duty – and can work shifts alone, unsupervised, according to Rasmussen.
Without the resolution, the city could still appoint level one, two and three reserve officers under the auspices of the California Penal Code, Rasmussen said. Reserves in those levels only have peace officer powers when on duty.
At this time, the city has one designated level one reserve officer going through field training, Rasmussen said.
Having the ability to add the designated reserve level would help out the police department, as Rasmussen noted the Lakeport Police Department is dealing with staffing shortages.
Councilman Bob Rumfelt asked about the $19.75 to $25.23 an hour salary range, which is the same as for a level one police officer. Rasmussen said the new reserve officer coming on is brand new, but they may draw more experienced candidates and want to be able to offer higher salaries, thus the range.
When it came time to hire, Rasmussen said City Manager Margaret Silveira would present funding options. He noted that the funding is already in the budget, and that the reserve would have sporadic hours and, at other times, wouldn't work at all.
Rumfelt was concerned about having a way to designate who gets which level in the salary range, and Rasmussen said they could set up more specific criteria.
Engstrom told Rasmussen, “I know you need it,” adding, “Up until recently there were 10 of you, and one quit.” As well, one officer now is on extended leave.
Rasmussen acknowledged that having the designated level one reserve available would help the department survive its staffing issues through the remainder of the fiscal year. Hiring the reserves is a quicker process, with the department able to have the necessary backgrounds completed by year's end.
Engstrom moved to approve both resolutions, with the council approving each 5-0.
Rasmussen also asked for, and received, the council's support for receiving and allocating Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funds for the current fiscal year and adopting the necessary resolution.
The state funds provide a normal allocation to Lakeport of $100,000 annually, although Rasmussen said the actual amount for this year hasn't been determined.
There was no comment during the brief public hearing, and Engstrom moved to approve the resolution, which Mattina seconded and the council approved 5-0.
Last on Rasmussen's to-do list at the council was seeking an exemption to the city's hiring freeze with regard to a recently open police officer position that resulted from a Dec. 1 resignation.
The position is funded by a US Department of Justice Cops Hiring and Recovery Program grant. Rasmussen said the grant still has two and a half years of salary and benefits coverage remaining.
Being able to hire a new officer is critical for the department, with staffing levels falling from 13 to 11 over the last 18 months because of lower city revenue.
Since the start of the fiscal year, the department's staffing has fallen further, with Rasmussen filling both his lieutenant's job and the chief's job with the departure of Kevin Burke. Then came the recent resignation.
Rasmussen's report explained that the department has made adjustments including workload increases on existing staff, and using volunteers, part-time peace officers and reserve officers in order to avoid reductions in service to the community. Without being able to rehire the position, cuts and reductions in services were likely.
“We do need that position to carry out our mission and function as a police department,” he told the council.
Rumfelt moved to authorize the exemption, which Councilman Roy Parmentier seconded. The council approved the motion 5-0.
Rasmussen told the council the police department only intends to hire academy graduates or lateral transfers, which will save the city from having to cover the costs of the academy.
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