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Lacey Civil Service Commission weighs clearer rules for reinstating commissioned officers
Summary
Commissioners discussed proposed clarifications to reinstatement and rehiring language for commissioned police officers after two recent rehires and related grievances; staff said formal rule text and redlines are expected by May with a possible August adoption.
The City of Lacey Civil Service Commission on Feb. 3 discussed revising civil service rules that govern reinstatement and rehiring of commissioned police officers after two recent rehires prompted grievances.
Commission Chair Amanda Vey opened the item and turned the discussion to staff. HR Director Leilani Sule said staff had contacted other cities for examples but would not present draft language at this meeting because the commission asked staff to consult the Police Officer Guild before finalizing changes. "We don't have anything to present today, because we're gonna have another discussion with our police officer guild, before we make any updated changes," Sule said.
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said existing rules use inconsistent terms ("rehire," "reinstatement") and are silent about whether reinstated commissioned officers regain prior accrual rates for vacation, sick leave and longevity. Deputy Chief Robert Hollis and Police Officer Guild President Stephanie Newcomb described the operational importance: returning officers can be road-ready far faster than new hires, and the guild seeks parity for accrued benefits. "For a return City of Lacey officer, we're looking at about 2 months" from background to road-ready, Newcomb said, compared with five to 12 months for other candidates.
Staff and commissioners identified several specific legal and policy touchpoints. HR staff cited the city policy that reinstates accruals for nonrepresented employees if rehired within 90 days, and noted a separate 12-month reinstatement reference in civil service rules that does not spell out accrual restoration. Sule provided the Commission RCW 43.101.125 as relevant to separation statements. Commissioners also discussed Washington state Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) training equivalencies: returning officers absent more than 24 months but less than 60 months may need an equivalency academy rather than full academy training.
Discussion, not decision: Commissioners did not adopt rule text. Sule and staff said they expect to bring redlined rule language for review in May and, if there is consensus, to finalize the changes in August. Sule said any changes would be circulated to affected bargaining units consistent with prior rules-update practice.
Points of contention and process: Participants said the core issues are definitional clarity (what "reinstatement" means), the interaction of civil service rules with the city policy manual and the existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for officers, and whether benefit accruals should be restored automatically for commissioned officers rehired within a specified window. Sule said those conversations involve both HR and the guild and that two affected employees have filed grievances that have moved into the second step of the grievance process; she declined to discuss grievance specifics while they are under review.
Next steps: Staff will continue research and bargaining-unit consultation and aims to present track-changed draft language at the commission's May meeting with a view toward a concrete August adoption if consensus is reached.
