Lakewood panel certifies police eligibility lists, cancels one lateral candidacy after background review

The Lakewood Civil Service Commission on its June 2025 meeting certified an entry-level police officer eligibility list of 19 candidates, certified a lateral eligibility list of five candidates and approved canceling the lateral candidacy of Joshua Patrick after material from a background investigation, the commission recorded.

The certifications and the cancellation matter because they determine the pool of candidates the Lakewood Police Department may hire from and affect near-term staffing: staff said the department currently has two vacancies and roughly 25–26 candidates are in background processing. Commissioners also discussed whether to pursue a consultant-led staffing study to examine officer-to-population levels.

Commissioners voted to accept the entry-level list after staff reported the list had grown from eight at the prior meeting to 19. Tracy Freeman, civil service secretary and chief examiner, said staff is “doing everything on our end that we can” to recruit and move applicants through testing and scheduling. Freeman noted candidates complete multiple steps of the hiring process, and that some drop out during scheduling for oral boards.

The commission amended and approved a motion to cancel the lateral candidacy of Joshua Patrick after background reviewers identified a pattern that, staff said, suggested poor decision-making. A background investigator described the department’s screening as “a thorough background investigation that includes polygraph test, the psychological exam, exam with the medical doctor, and chief’s bridal board.” The commission accepted the cancellation by voice vote after the amendment named the applicant.

The commission also certified the lateral eligibility list (five candidates) by motion and voice vote. Members discussed that lateral recruitment is more difficult for women because a smaller share of law enforcement employees are female; a commission member cited that only about 10%–12% of officers are women, making lateral transfers rarer than entry-level recruitment.

On staffing analysis, commissioners asked whether the city should commission an external study to compare officer counts to population and service expectations. Staff cautioned that such a consultant study would have a cost and that it should be scoped with input from city management and the police chief; a commissioner asked staff to raise the idea with the city manager and police chief. No formal motion to fund a study was made at the meeting.

Staff reported interim operational items: there is one conditional offer currently in background processing, oral boards will be scheduled as needed, and the next commission meeting date was adjusted on the calendar (the staff noted the July meeting would be moved from July 10 to July 3 and that the July agenda would likely be brief).