Council amends and adopts ordinance revising police hiring qualifications

The Bexley City Council on Tuesday adopted an amended ordinance that revises minimum qualifications and hiring preferences for prospective police officers.

What changed: The adopted amendment ties minimum requirements to the civil-service section referenced in the draft, while adding language that grants preference points to applicants who hold a 2- or 4-year accredited degree or who are active-duty/discharged military candidates. Council also added emergency language and discussed a clause to preserve the city's ability to consider applicants over certain age limits.

Why it matters: Council members said the change is intended to broaden the candidate pool while preserving standards. Supporters argued that giving preference to degree- or military-qualified candidates helps attract talent. Some members cautioned about lowering expectations but ultimately supported language that expands flexibility in recruitment.

Roll call and action: Council moved and seconded the amendment and then voted to adopt the ordinance. Staff said the change was developed in consultation with police leadership, the civil-service commission and outside counsel to balance recruitment needs with public-safety standards.

Quotation: "We want to continue to attract high talent, but also be flexible in recognizing that sometimes police officers have a variety of backgrounds," a council member said during the discussion.

Next steps: With the ordinance adopted, staff said recruitment materials and civil-service procedures will be updated to reflect the new preference language. Councilmembers asked staff and the chief to monitor hiring outcomes to ensure the ordinance meets recruitment and public-safety needs.

Ending: The ordinance was adopted after amendment; council members thanked staff, the chief and the civil-service commission for their input.