Menifee council approves new police recruit and corporal classifications; salary schedule updated

The Menifee City Council approved item 10.6, a staff proposal to update the municipal salary schedule and create classifications intended to strengthen the police department’s recruitment and training pipeline.

Silvana Rodriguez, Menifee’s human resources manager, told the council the update responds to the new California minimum wage for two part‑time positions (Community Service Leader I and Police Cadet), establishes a Police Corporal classification to serve as the primary field training officer, and creates a Police Recruit classification to align with practices at nearby agencies. "This program establishes a career path for other positions including the police cadet," Rodriguez said. She added the police recruit program "will not add any additional positions to our city" and that recruits will underfill current officer vacancies while attending the academy.

Councilmember McDonough asked what recruits will do while employed; staff clarified recruits are not sworn officers while in the academy and will perform academy training duties until graduation, after which they will be promoted to sworn officer status and enter the department’s field training program.

Council members voiced support for building a "homegrown" pipeline, saying the program should improve retention and fit the local culture of the department. The council approved the item by a recorded vote of 4-0.