Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure		Effective Date:  05/18/2021
	Policy Number: PP-4400 Transfer and Rotation of Police Agents

The Police Department recognizes that its overall efficiency and effectiveness is impacted by having experienced agents who have obtained a high level of expertise.

"Specialized assignment" positions are both functional and provide career enrichment opportunities for sworn personnel.  It is recognized that specialized assignments require a period of training and experience before an optimum level of efficiency and effectiveness is achieved; therefore, the length of assignments in these positions is established based on staff evaluation of the "best interest of the department."   ;Specialized assignments include the Community Action Team, Detective assignments, Internal Affairs, K-9 positions, Mills Team, School Resource Officers, Special Enforcement Team (SET), State or Federal Investigative Task Forces, Traffic Team, and Training Unit.             

"Best interest of the department" is defined for the purpose of this procedure as balancing the needs and objectives of the department with those of the individual employee.  While good performance is certainly a major factor in judging the selection of, and duration of a special assignment, other factors such as previous professional experience, career development, job enrichment, and job burnout shall also be weighed on an individual basis.

1. Core Specialized Assignment

a. A specialized assignment shall be designated as “core” by the division of assignment.  

b. When a core assignment is available, a notice of a position vacancy shall be emailed to all sworn personnel at least two (2) weeks prior to the selection process.  The announcement should describe the position, selection criteria including, any specialized knowledge, skills and abilities, the length of experience required, and a description of the selection process.

c. An interested agent shall submit a memorandum of interest to their primary supervisor indicating interest and any qualifications they may have that would aid them in the core specialized assignment. 

d. Supervisor recommendation (favorable or unfavorable) shall be submitted with the memorandum of interest. The decision shall then be made by the employee's section commander to recommend or not recommend the submitting agent for core specialized assignment consideration.  Submitting agents shall be given feedback by their current supervisor why they were or were not recommended for the core specialized assignment.  All memorandums shall be sent to and reviewed by the division chief of the open assignment via the agents’ chain of command.

e. An oral board interview will aid in the final selection for the position.   Each candidate shall be asked the same questions.  Demeanor, appearance, special skills, interest, attitude, past performance, and seniority shall also be considered.  Scoring of the questions will be documented.  At the conclusion of the process, the oral board chairperson will submit a memorandum to the Professional Standards commander containing a short summary of the outcomes to include the names of the candidates interviewed, the interview questions, any written notes related to the interview, and a summary of the decision as to why the candidate was chosen.  The memorandum will be maintained in the Professional Standards Section for a period of one year.

f. All candidates shall be allowed and encouraged to receive feedback by the individual board members upon the request of the candidate.

g. In the event another opening occurs in the same team within six (6) months of the conclusion of the process, the division chief shall have the option of selecting a candidate from the list (in numerical rank order), or to repeat the process should any candidate become unsatisfactory for the assignment due to an  act(s) of misconduct, or unsatisfactory work performance that would be considered contrary to the best interest of the department.

h. Occasionally, a short term investigative assignment (less than 12 months) requiring special skills becomes available and will have to be filled quickly.  In these instances, the respective division command staff may disregard the above procedure to fill the temporary position.

i. An agent assigned to a core specialized assignment may compete for another core or rotating position.  Core agents accepting a rotating position lose their core status.

2.    Rotating Specialized Assignments

a. A rotating specialized assignment shall be for a period not normally exceeding five (5) years. Extensions may be granted if in the best interest of the department.  

b. Division Command staff shall have the discretion of determining which position within a team will be designated as "rotating" assignments as vacancies occur. 

c. When a rotating assignment becomes available, notice of the rotating assignment vacancy memorandum of interest, supervisor recommendation (favorable or unfavorable), as well as the selection process for the opening shall be the same procedure as the one used to fill a core specialized assignment.

d. While assigned to a rotating specialized assignment, an agent shall not be allowed to compete for another rotating assignment with the exception of  Federal Task Force opportunities or a core specialized assignment.

e. In order for rotating assignments to be available to as many as possible, agents completing a rotating assignment may not start a new rotating position for a period of one (1) year.  This restriction does not apply to short term rotating assignments of one (1) year or less.  Agents who have completed a short-term assignment are eligible to apply and start another rotating assignment without time restriction.

f. The K-9 Team shall consist of only rotating positions.  The patrol experience at the prior agency shall count, along with their time beyond field training at Lakewood.  Agents selected for the K-9 Team assignment must formally agree:

1) To forego promotional consideration or transfer for at least five years after completing basic K-9 training.

2) To board and care for their animals under conditions, and at a compensation rate, specified by the City.  

3) The duration of the tenure of the agents assigned to the K-9 Unit shall be the maximum working life of the assigned dog. Should the assigned dog be lost or retired during the first five (5) years of duty, the agent may be allowed to continue his/her tenure with a new dog.

1. Agents with less than two (2) years of Lakewood patrol experience (upon completion of the field training program) shall not be considered for specialized assignments.  Agents, who were hired as laterals, shall be considered if they have a total of two (2) years of patrol experience beyond initial field training.  The patrol experience at the prior agency shall count, along with their time beyond field training at Lakewood.

2. To be considered for a special, rotating, or core specialized assignment, agents shall be judged on the following: 

a. Length of service with the department.  

b. Special skills, general knowledge, and experience in the area of the special assignment. 

c. Interest and attitude toward current assignment.

d. Level of performance as determined by the review of performance evaluations, discipline records, employee logs, and other material deemed appropriate.   

3. The Chief of Police shall retain final approval for the selection of personnel to criminal investigation or special assignment positions.  It shall be understood that position transfer for purposes of this policy shall not be construed as a promotion.    

4.  Although assignments may be designated as core, the Chief of Police, or his designee, may transfer personnel to other assignments whenever it is deemed in the best interest of the department.