HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-798-10.26.2020Prepared by Kelley Felchle, City Clerk, City of Waterloo, 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, IA
50703, (319) 291-4323.
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-798
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A HIRING BONUS OF $5,000
FOR CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTER
PARAMEDICS.
WHEREAS, hiring police officers becomes more difficult each year; and
WHEREAS, hiring and academy training of a non -certified police officer costs the city in
excess of twenty -thousand dollars ($20,000); and
WHEREAS, a non -certified police officer spends sixteen (16) weeks training at the Iowa
Law Enforcement Academy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Waterloo pays the new hire a full salary and benefits during their
training at the academy; and
WHEREAS, non -certified officers spend two weeks at orientation, sixteen weeks at the
academy, and twelve weeks in field training, prior to working on the street alone; and
WHEREAS, hiring of a certified police officer would require two weeks of orientation
and twelve weeks of field training prior to working on the street alone. This reduces sixteen
weeks of shortages and could reduce overtime and burnout of overworked and understaffed
employees; and
WHEREAS, Waterloo Police Department is at a disadvantage when other cities across
Iowa are offering the same if not more bonuses for new hires; and
WHEREAS, Waterloo Fire Rescue (WFR) is the Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
provider for the City of Waterloo offering Paramedic Fire Based EMS to the citizens of
Waterloo; and
WHEREAS, WFR operates three (3) front line and two (2) reserve paramedic transport
ambulances; and
WHEREAS, Training requirements for new paramedics have, over time, increased in
duration and cost to the city; and
WHEREAS, Training a current employee of WFR to the paramedic level cost the
department in excess of $15,000 (fifteen thousand dollars); and
WHEREAS, Paramedic training is a yearlong program with classroom and field training.
Firefighters attending paramedic school requires backfilling their position to maintain staffing
levels. The cost of backfilling has an impact to the fire department budget; and
WHEREAS, Due to the cost and time commitment of paramedic school WFR limits the
number of firefighters that can be sent each year; and
WHEREAS, Because of the number of paramedics certified within the department and
the inability to send large numbers to school, current paramedics have been working on the
ambulance for many years and are not able to advance their careers due to lack of assigned
paramedics; and
WHEREAS, WFR has to compete with other municipalities that are currently offering
Resolution No. 2020-798
Page 2
hiring bonuses; and
WHEREAS, paramedics are in short supply nationally and it is imperative that WFR
maintain or increase the number of certified paramedic; and
WHEREAS, the hiring bonus program for certified police officers and firefighter
paramedics will save the city budget the cost of the training, reduce overtime, stress and burnout
of employees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WATERLOO, IOWA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That a five thousand dollar ($5,000) bonus shall be paid to any new Police
Department recruit certified by Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at the time of hire.
Section 2. That a five thousand dollar ($5,000) bonus shall be paid to any new
Firefighter/Paramedic holding a national or state paramedic certification at the time of hire.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of October 2020.
Overt -tin Hart
Quentin Hart, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kele, fetckte
Kelley Felchle
City Clerk
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