The Lawrence Police mayor commission voted to add a lateral transfer process to its rules and authorized staff to begin a hiring process for position 26.01.

Lieutenant Scott presented the amendment to Article 2, subsection n, saying the proposal had been reviewed by department leadership and legal counsel. He told commissioners that lateral hires would be held to the same basic qualifications as other candidates: "They're gonna have to meet the exact same qualifications anybody else does," and that psychological screening would be required.

Commissioners asked whether physical‑fitness testing would be identical for laterals, whether probationary protections would apply, and whether the department planned to offer pay incentives to attract laterals. Lieutenant Scott said physical‑agility requirements could be adjusted at the chief's discretion but that laterals would follow the same medical, background and probation rules as other hires. He also said there was not a standing monetary incentive attached to the lateral process; any prior regional bonus programs had shown mixed results.

The commission discussed staffing levels during the hiring presentation. Staff reported the department currently had 62 officers and said the authorized staffing maximum was either 65 or 68 (the transcript records both figures). Commissioners noted one previously made conditional offer did not pass medical screening.

After discussion, the commission moved to adopt the rule amendment and to begin the hiring process; both motions were seconded and passed by unanimous voice votes. Lieutenant Scott said outreach would begin in January, with a written test scheduled the following Wednesday and oral interviews planned for Jan. 7.

The motions do not impose pay changes or alter collective‑bargaining terms; they add a streamlined administrative pathway for certified lateral candidates while keeping existing vetting standards in place.