HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Civil Services Commission - 06/18/1987 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. FETING
June 18, 1987 :• ,
The regular meeting was called to order by Chairman T. Richard Ried at
8:05 a.m.
In Attendance: Commissioners Michele G. Hinz and Joseph A., Street, Assistant
Chief Berg, Captain Byerly, Battalion Chfef,.M~ronsdahl and
Firefighter Kevin Kearns, Ms. Nancy Maxsorf,,,,,,Lateral Entry
police applicant was also present.
Mr. Street moved to approve the minutes of May 21, 1987 as submitted.
Ms. Hinz seconded and the motion carried.
Chairman made two announcements: It will be necessary for him to leave the
meeting by 9:00 a.m. to make a phone call to Yugoslavia. The second announce-
ment was his presentation of a beautiful plaque, Certificate of Appreciation
to the Secretary, provided by the Civil Service Commiss-ion,ifor ten years
service (August 1), signed by Chairman T. Richard Ried anal Commissioners
Joseph A. Street and Michele Gentry Hinz, Chief Angelo and Chief Frederiksen.
Secretary expressed her appreciation for the unexpected presentation.
Secretary reported that the next phase after the evaluatjoh,, of the Police
Lateral Entry resumes by the Committee is the physical fi,tr ss assessment
which will be held next Wednesday, June 24, followed by ,the'-oral board and
polygraph exam scheduled for June 25 and 26, and the psychological evaluation
on June 26 and 29 for out-of-state candidates. Oral board for in-state
candidates is to be held June 30 and July 1.
Copies of correspondence from Judith E. Bendich of Bendjpbo; Stobaugh and
Strong, representing James Kinnunen, were provided the Coission prior to the
meeting. Copies of the respons& from City Attorney Driscol"l,Were distri-
buted. Chairman related he spoke with Ms. Driscoll on thO phone and told the
Commission the initial letter to -Mr. Kinnunen was correct but because of the
new court decision on June 8, th'e Commission will releaae impies of his
records with a few exceptions. Secretary noted the recorAs; ;were sent to the
attorney's office yesterday. Ms. Hinz moved to accept the I etter from the
City Attorney into the record, Mr. Street seconded and ,the %go#ion carried.
Ms. Hinz amended her motion to 4nclude the acceptance qCAe correspondence
from Attorney Bendich into the record, Mr. Street secondsd,rand the motion
carried.
The letter and resume from Nancy J. Maxson, a Police Lateral Entry applicant,
were provided earlier to the Commission. Ms. Maxson was given the opportunity
to speak. She explained she does not have the required number of months of
experience as a sworn officer, but she is a certified, iaiq',itforcement officer
in the State of Idaho and holds a four-year degree in Cr1fjnal Justice from
Washington State University and has had extensive law onforceaoent background
of 13 years. In describing her background she said sho tmW the Richland
Police Department as a cadet and was allowed to activelyl!pWticcipate in all
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patrol functions of a Police Ufficer:.°' She also has experience working full
time in a dual capacity as a dispatcher and satellite training coordinator
assistant, coordinating all regional training. She was awarded the highest
research award for undergraduates from WSU for her thesis, "Post Shooting
Trauma"', which is published by the Training Commission and distributed
nationally without a copyright because- she felt it is really important to
share that information with fellow officers. After graduating WSU, she joined
the Lewiston Police Department and worked 14 months there as a commissioned
officer. She has done consultant work, as a result of the thesis, wrote
policies and procedures for Pierce County Sheriff's Department and sent
outlines for trauma response teams ail over western United States. She also
instructed at Spokane Police Academy and WSU in Trauma Response. In January
of this year, she made a personal decision to move to the West Coast with her
future husband who was hired by Olympia Police Department and she is pursuing
her law enforcement career in Western Washington.
When asked for the department's recorndation, Captain Byerly declared that
the real issue is that her request is to proceed to the selection process, not
necessarily to obtain a position. He noted she lacks lU .months required
experience as a full commissioned officer, but questioned if everything she
has done is equivalent to ten monthsl ,experience.
Captain Byerly reported that Chief Frederiksen has had an opportunity to
review the applicant's resume and his 'recommendation is that although the
candidate is very qualified' in all areas, the standards are set for yU college
credit hours and 2 years of, full-time police officer experience; and if we
make exceptions it may open the door for future conflict.
Captain Byerly, in expressing his personal views, wished he had more time in
establishing standards to possibly include people who have worked in reserve
capacity as there are applicants who have 7 to lU years of reserve experience
but receive no credit no for it. He has been personally involved in the
police cadet program in Seattle and tits found cadets to be very dedicated and
Ms. Maxson having started at age 14 and maintaining a constant interest in law
enforcement may be just as qualified '.0s someone who starts their career at age
21 as a police officer. But he statfthe language in the Lateral Entry
Program is specific: "two years full-Otme commissioned officer experience."
Mr. Street questioned if being expericced as a communication officer
qualified as a police officer. Ms. Maxson responded that her 8 years as
dispatcher was non-commissioned posit n. Pis. Hinz indicated she would like
to find a way to include Ms. Maxson into the program but expressed her concern
that others may not have applied because they did not meet the minimum
requirement. -'
Mr. Ried stated, in his opinion, thaf ach case, particularly in a person as
well qualified as Ms. Maxson, the ComWtslon should look at it on the basis of
equivalency and each case as an indivIdual case and an exceptional allowance
should be made. But he thought it better to defer any decision until the City
Attorney returns and gives her opinion, if the rules allow for exceptions.
Mr. Street moved to request the City Attorney to give us her opinion at a
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special meeting on Tuesday, June 23 regarding Ms. Maxsonk*,1# st for an
exception to the experience requirement. Ms. Hinz seconded. =d ;the motion
carried.
Captain Byerly informed the Commission that other applicants who did not meet
specific qualifications were told the same thing, that they Could request an
appearance before the Commission to present their case. Cha ,rman acknowledged
that is the proper procedure.
The letter dated May 15, 1987 from Officer Gail Keil notifying of her resigna-
tion effective immediately was read. Mr. Street moved, Ms«: Hinz seconded, to
accept the letter from Officer Kell into the records. Motion carried.
The letter from Jeffry A. Steadman, dated June 9, 1987 requesting substitution
of additional month of educational time for the required months of experience
or, if not acceptable, a refund of his application fee. It was noted some of
his experience at Central Washington University is not at i�. tnicipality,
county, or state law enforcement agency and does not meet, m'i^g,1n require-
ments. Mr. Street moved to authorize a refund to Mr. Steadman. Ms. Hinz
seconded and the motion carried.
A memo of June 12, 1987 from Assistant Chief LaBore informing of the termina-
tion of Christopher Kroha, effective May 26, 1981, was read. Ms. Hinz moved,
Mr. Street seconded, to accept the memo into the records.. Motion 'carried.
The memo of June 17, 1987 from Assistant Chief LaBore informing of his
resignation effective June 30, 1987, was read. He has accepted a position
with King County Fire District No. 24. Mr. Street moved, Ms. Hinz seconded,
to accept the memo regretfully into the records, and motion carried.
The memo of June 17, 1987 from Assistant Chief Berg informing of the temporary
appointment of John E. Aldridge to the position of Assistant Fire Chief,
effective June 22, 1987, was read. Ms. Hinz moved, Mr. $trrot seconded, to
accept the memo into the records and motion carried.
Assistant Chief Berg requested permission to start a testing process for the
position of Assistant Fire Chief. He confirmed for Chairman that it would be
,the same testing procedure used in the past. He explained that their intention
is to use an oral resume process to reduce the candidates; td six for the
assessment center. The oral resume is anticipated to beiold in mid-July and
the assessment center in early August. Ms. Hinz moved tq;, thorize an
Assistant Fire Chief examination process. Mr. Street sed and the motion
carried.
Copies of the new printing of the rules and regulations ' �Prporating Police
Lateral Entry were distributed. tj
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 1987 at 8:OU a.m.
in the Council Chambers.
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Meeting adjourned at 8:45 aim, �sr,
' 1,�: �sctively submitted.
Kato, ecre ary and
i«i:Oief Examiner
Approved:
Chairmanr ed
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