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Panel considers bill to let municipal police chiefs hire lateral transfers and run cadet schools without civil service exam
Summary
House Bill 44 would let departments in statutory cities fill some vacant officer positions without a civil service exam when the competitive component is unnecessary and allow municipal chiefs to run cadet training aligned with academy standards; sponsors said the change would align statutory cities with charter cities and speed lateral hiring.
Sponsors told the House Public Safety Committee that House Bill 44 would give police chiefs in statutory cities discretion to waive a competitive civil service exam for hires when the department can show the exam's competitive component is unnecessary and the applicant has "exceptional qualifications." Joint sponsors said the measure also would permit municipal police chiefs to run locally controlled training schools that meet Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy standards, allowing graduates to be hired directly by departments.
"Filling positions with veteran officers avoids excessive time and money and allows for a trained officer to immediately make an impact," one sponsor said. The sponsors framed the bill as aligning statutory cities with charter cities, which they said can already hire lateral transfers without the civil service delay. "This is for bringing officers in to fill positions ... for entry level or road patrol," a sponsor told the committee.
Members asked whether the bill applies to all positions in a department or only officer hires. Sponsors answered the bill is focused on officers and cadets, not promotion processes for sergeants or lieutenants. Representative Brent asked whether background checks and vetting would still occur for lateral transfers; sponsors said most departments already perform background checks and reach out to prior employers.
Representative Brewer raised concerns about potential "bad actors" using a waiver to move between departments; sponsors responded that background checks and agency-to-agency contact remain standard practice and that departments retain discretion. Ranking Member Thomas and other members from charter cities said they have used similar cadet programs and saw recruitment benefits.
Sponsors said the bill language is permissive (allows chiefs to do this) and noted a prior version passed a previous General Assembly committee and floor unanimously. No committee action was taken; sponsors said they would work with members on drafting specifics, including any required safeguards or standards for background checks.
Ending
The committee closed the hearing after questions and comments; bill sponsors said they would collaborate with stakeholders on clarifying language and safeguards.
