* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Department - Recruitment Efforts
FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the status of recruitment efforts to maintain or increase the number of sworn police officers on the Baltimore Police Department force, the effect of looming budget cuts on maintaining an appropriate level of deployment in all divisions of the Department, and attempts to recruit Baltimore City high school graduates to participate in the Police Cadet program.
Body
Recitals
In July of last year, the Administration implemented a series of steps to enhance police recruitment. The 6-point plan called for increasing the Police Department's recruitment goal from 240 to 300 new officers a year, studying and rejuvenating the recruitment and training process, providing tutoring and training for the required civil service test for those who failed, increasing marketing efforts, expanding the cadet program, and establishing a loan program for college students who commit to becoming police officers.
The 2007 6-point plan was the result of a shortage that, in 2006, drove the Baltimore Police to take the extraordinary measure of traveling to Puerto Rico to recruit officers. According to media reports, Baltimore police traveled to Puerto Rico for 2 reasons: (1) Down 130 officers amid a cutthroat recruiting climate for U.S. law enforcement agencies, the Department needed to replenish its ranks; and (2) With the City's Latino population booming, the police needed more bilingual, Spanish-speaking officers on the streets.
If a shortage of recruits exists in the Police Department, it does so amidst a declining employment rate among those who are eligible to apply to be Police Cadets. The Program is designed for 18-20 year old applicants who are interested in pursing a career in law enforcement. "The BDP offers cadets a variety of rewarding assignments and affords the opportunity to gain valuable skills. Cadets also attend the local community college taking law enforcement courses on a part-time basis, paid for by the BPD. The cadet program provides valuable and rewarding law enforcement experience and prepares the younger applicants for future success in the BPD academy".
The population of the ages eligible to become cadets is experiencing unprecedented unemployment across the nation. The Collapse of the National Teen Job Market and the Case for An Immediate Summer and Year Round Jobs Creation Program, a report prepared by the Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, states, in part, that the nation's teens (16-19) have experienced declining rates since the summer of 2006. Their annual average employment rate declined in 2007, to a new record low - 34.8% - for the post-World War II period. Teens from low income families who were Black or Hispanic fared the worst in U.S. labor markets.
"The troubled job market for the nation's teens has carried over to the job market for 20-24 year old adults. The employment rates of 20-24 year olds with no four year college degree in 2007 were substantially below those of 2000, especially among males and the native born. High school graduates faced a 6 percentage point lower employment rate. The real weekly and annual earnings of employed teens and young adults also has declined and remain well below their historical peaks in the mid-1970s".
Should the projected cuts to the Police Department's annual operating budget be sustained or even increased, the recruit program must be protected - Baltimore City citizens' need for law and order does not diminish with the diminishing coffers of City government. And, should the dollars available for recruiting of new cadets be affected, it is imperative that the remaining dollars be spent to employ those Baltimore City young adults most in need of rewarding and gainful employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Baltimore Police Commissioner is requested to report to the City Council on the status of recruitment efforts to maintain or increase the number of sworn police officers on the Baltimore Police Department force, the effect of looming budget cuts on maintaining an appropriate level of deployment in all divisions of the department, and attempts to recruit Baltimore City high school graduates to participate in the Police Cadet program.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore Police Commissioner, the Director of Finance, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr 08-0484~intro/22Oct08
ccres/Cadets/nf
dlr 08-0484~intro/22Oct08
??2??
ccres/Cadets/nf