§ 2-36. Lateral entry for police officers and firefighters.

(a)

The city council adopts the Waxahachie Civil Service Pay Structure and all applicable extra pay types annually as part of the city's budget, and the ordinance codified in this section is intended to explicate and supplement the pay structure ordinance.

(1)

The city council authorizes the lateral entry pay for police officers and firefighters as defined in subsection (b) herein.

(2)

Detailed rules and regulations for qualifying standards, eligibility, and administration of such pay may be stated within city and/or departmental policies. Such policies are subject to change as needed and approved by the city manager for purposes of city policies or by the department chiefs for purposes of department policies.

(3)

Changes in the actual base pay amount shall be made through an ordinance amending such.

(b)

Lateral entry (prior experience):

(1)

The base pay structure is authorized by V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 143.041(c)(1).

(2)

Applicants for police officer or firefighter positions who are hired after January 20, 2015 shall be eligible for lateral entry pay if they have at least three (3) years continuous service as a paid, full-time licensed peace officer with the authority to enforce laws, investigate crimes, make arrests, respond to calls for service, carry a firearm, and use discretion as part of their assigned duties or a certified paid, full-time firefighter/EMT. A lateral entry applicant shall not have more than a two-year break in service from the time the applicant left a comparable law enforcement or fire suppression agency and the time the applicant applied with the Waxahachie Police or Fire Department.

(3)

Starting pay. The starting pay for lateral entry officers or firefighters with prior experience will be determined based on the number of years employed by their previous agency or agencies on the date of their civil service entrance examination with the Waxahachie Police or Fire Department. For purposes of hiring, all lateral entry officer candidates must successfully complete each step in the civil service hiring process in the same manner as any other candidate.

a.

Lateral entry officers or firefighters who have at least three (3) years of qualified service at a law enforcement or fire agency shall be credited with their total number of whole years of service. These officers shall be initially placed at the step below the pay structure step commensurate with their qualified years of experience up to, but not exceeding, the rate of pay specified in beginning pay level of Step 7 for police and pay level 6 for fire.

b.

Previous Waxahachie Police Officers who are re-appointed as police officers shall be placed in the same salary step they held at the time of their resignation unless the applicant terminated while at a supervisory rank. If the re-appointed officer left the Waxahachie Police Department while in a supervisory capacity, then the re-appointed officer's pay shall correspond with the re-appointed officer's total prior service years, but shall not exceed the top pay of police officer rank.

(4)

Departmental seniority impact. The lateral entry program described herein is for lateral entry pay purposes only to determine placement into the existing pay structure. Actual work experience in another agency will not be considered for promotional eligibility requirements, departmental seniority or transfers. Departmental seniority for lateral entry officers or firefighters and re-appointed officers will begin on their most recent civil service hire date with the department.

(5)

Requirements. Guidelines and administration for eligibility for lateral entry shall be governed by department policies. The department chief shall make the final determination as to whether an applicant meets the criteria for the lateral entry program and the chief's decision shall be final and non-appealable to the civil service commission or to any court.

(Ord. No. 2778 , §§ 2, 3, 1-20-15)