Council approves ordinance authorizing expedited hiring for police lateral and entry-level candidates

The Scranton City Council on Sept. 30 approved an ordinance (File of Council No. 95 of 2025) authorizing entry-level employment in the police department without competition under certain conditions affecting public safety.

Council members voted to adopt the ordinance after it was taken from the table and placed into seventh order for final passage. The Committee on Public Safety recommended final passage before the roll-call vote. Council members said the change is intended to allow the police department to hire more quickly, reduce overtime burdens and help bring staffing up to the funded complement.

Council and committee members noted the lateral and expedited hiring process will require officers to hold the Act 120 certification (the statewide law-enforcement training certification) where applicable and that the civil service commission was consulted. Solicitor and staff communications from the civil service commission were obtained before the final vote; councilmembers said that commission would still have to meet to give a formal endorsement after council approval.

During debate, council members thanked colleagues for tabling the item previously, which enabled staff to secure the civil-service feedback. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with all present members recorded as voting yes (Mister King, Mister Shuster, Doctor Rothschild, Mister McAndrew and Mister Smearle). The measure was declared legally and lawfully adopted.

The ordinance delegates hiring flexibility to the police department while retaining certification and commission oversight steps; council members noted that if issues arise the council can change or rescind the ordinance.

Specific hiring thresholds, number of positions to be filled, and projected fiscal impacts were not detailed on the council floor during the final vote and will be handled by the police department and civil service processes going forward.