ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager, Director of Community Development, Human Resource Director, and Police Chief with a Request for the Following:
A. APPROVE the COMMUNITY FIRST PILOT PROGRAM;
B. ADOPT An ORDINANCE Amending the City of Peoria 2020 - 2021 BIENIAL BUDGET Relating to the Transfer of Program Income Generated by CDBG and BRP Programs, in the Amount of $45,000.00, from the Capital Fund to the General Fund to Fund the Community First Pilot Program.
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BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria is committed to ensuring all our employees receive training and guidance that allows them to best serve our community. The City is interested in launching a new pilot program centered around offering incoming Police Officers an opportunity to enhance their exposure to our community before they are hired by the Police Department and attend the Police Academy.
The Community Development Department in partnership with the Police Department and Human Resources Department is pleased to introduce the "Community First" pilot program. The traditional hiring process for the Peoria Police Department includes a gap of time after testing is completed and a conditional offer of employment is made, but before attending the Police Academy. During this period, the officer is not engaged in the community or training in law enforcement. For the upcoming group of Police Officers, this period is from now until September. Through this pilot program, the Community Development Department will expose them to the training it provides to its staff on issues centered around neighborhood and community development before they leave for the Police Academy. The incoming Police Officers will have the option of being employed by the Community Development Department as Temporary Code Enforcement Aides until they leave for the Police Academy in September. Based on initial conversations with the incoming Police Officers, 5 of the 8 new officers are interested in participa...
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