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Council debates officer training reimbursement ordinance after city-paid recruit leaves
Summary
Council members and the police chief discussed an ordinance that would require officers to repay training costs if they leave within a set period; the measure was placed on second reading after debate about the payback period and recruitment impacts.
Council members debated an ordinance to require repayment of police academy or training costs if an officer leaves the department within a set period after city-paid schooling.
Councilman Gerhardstein introduced the item and said the ordinance is returning because “the city of Wickliffe paid the young gentleman to go to officer training school” and the recruit left for another job soon after completing training. He said the chief asked for the ordinance to return after that experience.
Police Chief Bush described the department’s staffing challenges and training timeline, saying the academy is typically six months, followed by roughly four months of field training and a probationary period. He recommended the repayment requirement extend at least through the probationary period for recruits who leave before completing required training.
Proposed terms and debate
- Draft repayment schedule discussed in the meeting: full repayment if the officer leaves within one year; 75% repayment for departure in years 1–2; 50% for years 2–3; and 25% for years 3–4. A council member argued four years “is a long time” and proposed a shorter window such as one year.
- Councilman Bell asked about the cost of sending an officer to the academy; the figure discussed during the meeting was $4,800 per recruit.
- Several council members and the chief expressed concern that losing a newly trained officer imposes repeated training costs and operational disruption; others cautioned about deterrence to applicants.
Council action
The council moved to suspend rules to advance the ordinance; after a roll-call vote the ordinance was placed on second reading rather than being adopted at this meeting. No final vote adopting the ordinance occurred at this session.
Ending: Council asked the clerk to prepare the ordinance language consistent with the prior proposal; members asked staff to consider the appropriate payback timeframe and the use of free academies when possible.
