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facilities. He also commented on the department and the city as offering a positive and <br /> welcoming work environment. <br /> Councilmember Litten expressed appreciation for the proactive approach. <br /> In response to a question, it was clarified that the proposed change is a civil service rule and does <br /> not need to be part of the collective bargaining agreement. <br /> The committee and Chief Kaucheck reviewed previous legislative changes that may help with <br /> hiring and retention such as the legislation which allows a service credit for time previously <br /> served in another jurisdiction. <br /> Officer Bunner reported that the union has not yet taken a vote on the service credit legislation <br /> because it is waiting to vote on three items at once. <br /> In response to a question from a committee member, Officer Bunner remarked that pay is a big <br /> consideration for attracting new officers. He noted that a 2020 survey showed that Lakewood <br /> officers' pay is ranked 434 on a list of 38 nearby municipalities. Other important factors include <br /> opportunities for advancement and morale. <br /> Councilmember Bullock urged the Chief to speak up if there is more that can be done to attract <br /> and retain officers. <br /> The Chief mentioned that he has put it a capital project for a police locker room upgrade that <br /> may get bumped out another year or so. <br /> In response to a committee member question about the number of vacancies in the department, <br /> Chief Kaucheck explained that technically the department is only down one officer. However, <br /> when you consider the officers who are on leave or still in training, the actual number of officers <br /> is about 80 who can be on their own. He noted that in the past, when asked, he has rejected the <br /> idea of needing additional officers. However, he stated that given the recent trends in policing, he <br /> would like to consider expansion of the department in the future. He noted that current officers <br /> are being stretched thin from mandatory OT and that off-duty jobs are going unfilled. <br /> Motion by Councilmember Neff and seconded to recommend adoption of 37-2021 to Council. <br /> All members voted in favor. Motion passed. <br /> Public Safety Committee adjourned at 7:29 p.m. <br /> 2 <br />