Number
241227
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BURGELIS AND WESTMORELAND
Title
Substitute resolution to provide a signing bonus for lateral hires of sworn officers to the Milwaukee Police Department in support of the City’s recruitment efforts.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the funding and payment of recruitment incentives in the form of individual, $10,000 sign-on bonus payments to be paid to certain eligible recruits to the City of Milwaukee Police Department under Recruitment #2411-2342-LAT, attached as Exhibit A, who have prior law enforcement experience and who promise to remain continuously employed in active service for four years or repay the bonus under certain terms and conditions specified in a written agreement between the eligible recruit and the Fire and Police Commission.
Body
Whereas, The Fire and Police Commission desires to maintain a level of law enforcement that is at least equivalent to that provided in the previous year; and
Whereas, The Fire and Police Commission uses continuous testing, hiring, and recruiting efforts to fill positions within the Milwaukee Police Department; and
Whereas, Despite the Fire and Police Commission’s efforts, the number of candidates for police officer have been insufficient to fill each planned recruitment class; and
Whereas, The Fire and Police Commission desires to attract and retain police officers who have prior experience, credentials, and other qualifications as specified in Recruitment #2411-2342-LAT; and
Whereas, The Fire and Police Commission desires to offer a sign-on bonus to individuals who apply under Recruitment #2411-2342-LAT and who are appointed in the calendar year 2025 to the Milwaukee Police Department’s Police Academy to increase the number of candidates under such recruitment; and
Whereas, If an eligible Lateral Transfer elects to receive a sign-on bonus, the Lateral Transfer shall enter into a written agreement with the Fire and Police Commission, which requires, in part, repayment of the sign-on bonus by the Lateral Transfer to the Fire and Police Commission under certain terms and conditions specified in the agreement; and
Whereas, The decision by the Lateral Transfer to enter into an agreement with the Fire and Police Commission and thereby receive the sign-on bonus is voluntary, and the Lateral Transfer may decline without any effect on his or her employment with the Milwaukee Police Department; and
Whereas, The agreement between the Lateral Transfer and the Fire and Police Commission does not constitute an employment agreement or guarantee of continued employment, nor is it intended to create a restrictive covenant related to competition following the Lateral Transfer’s employment with the Milwaukee Police Department; now, therefore be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee that money be appropriated to fund and pay sign-on bonuses to eligible lateral transfers to Recruitment #2411-2342-LAT who are appointed in the calendar year 2025 to the Milwaukee Police Academy to increase the number of candidates under such recruitment, is approved; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Fire and Police Commission is authorized to execute and approve all documents, including agreements in a form substantially similar to Exhibit B, and take all actions necessary to carry out this recruitment incentive; and be it
Further Resolved, That the City Comptroller be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to carry out the intent of this resolution; and be it
Further Resolved, That at the Fire and Police Commission’s direction, the proper City officials are authorized and directed to issue such sign-on bonus payments:
To be paid to eligible Lateral Transfers in the amount of $10,000, to be charged to the Milwaukee Police Department Salaries Fund 0001, ORG 3310, SBCL R999, Account 006000, except as directed otherwise by the Comptroller; and be it
Further Resolved, At the Fire and Police Commission’s direction, the proper City officials are authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to recover the sign-on bonus paid to Lateral Transfers who breach the terms of the written agreement.
Requestor
City Attorney
Drafter
LISA A. GILMORE/ALEXANDER E. FOUNDOS/dpb
December 3, 2024
1095-2024-1885:295129
Technical Corrections
Chris Lee
12/18/2024