Lakewood Police Department
Policy and Procedure

 Effective Date: 12/15/2023
Policy Number: PP-3602 - Education
 

A. Policy

In fulfilling its commitment to provide professional police service, the department encourages all full-time and part-time employees who have been employed in a regular or provisional position for at least 12 months to further their formal accredited education or professional development to add value to their work at the City.  Therefore, consistent with its annually budgeted funds, the City will provide tuitional assistance for acceptable courses on a first-come, first-served basis. The police department cooperates with employees in arranging duty schedules and assignments to facilitate and encourage such individual effort.  See Administrative Regulation 40-0007.

B. Procedure 

1. Employees are encouraged to make use of all educational resources offered by an accredited school toward a recognized degreed program, including graduate-level courses, or for courses related to acceptable programs as determined by the City. 
 
2. Courses taken as part of obtaining a certification or licensure will be reimbursed under the Educational Assistance Program. These courses, if taken during work hours, will be paid as “regular pay”. 
 
3. All employees of the Police Department shall complete the City Educational Assistance/Professional Development request form, anytime they enroll in a university or college, whether or not City reimbursement will be sought.  

4. The completed form shall be submitted to the employee's chain of command, approved by the Division Chief or manager and approved by the chief of police in consultation with Human Resources.  

5. All employees attending an educational institution (undergraduate, graduate, law school, etc.) shall immediately notify their division chief of any change in educational status (withdrawal, graduation, etc.).  

6. The City of Lakewood may reimburse the employee for the cost of tuition if: 
 
a. Other financial assistance is not available to the employee and funds are available in the current budget for educational reimbursement.  

b. The employee satisfactorily completed the course with a grade of "pass," or "C," or better and has submitted proof of class completion to Human Resources.

c. The employee is still in the employ of the City of Lakewood at the time the course is completed.  

C. Rule

1. Employees are eligible for reimbursement for class tuition and fees up to the amount allowed under Internal Revenue Code guidelines each calendar year.

2. The program does not cover expenses for books, tolls, supplies, equipment, meals, lodging or transportation.

3. Time off taken during regular work hours for educational program courses will be paid with accrued vacation, holiday, or compensatory time or will be unpaid.

4. Employees must agree to continue in the employ of the City providing active service for a minimum of three years from the date the employee completes the class. If the employee leaves the City for any reason, other than disability or dismissal not involving misconduct, they will be liable to repay payments made to them in the preceding three years under the educational program, pro-rated on a monthly basis.
 







NEXT: PP-3700 - Promotional Process