Lincoln City Council
Lincoln Police officer residency expanded

 

[February 19, 2021] 

Lincoln aldermen voted this week to expand the residency requirements for Lincoln police officers. Officers may now reside in the surrounding counties of Tazewell, Mason, McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Sangamon and Menard. Previously officers had to live within 15 miles of the city of Lincoln.

The Regular voting session of the council was held on Tuesday, February 16th due to the Presidents Day on Monday. Aldermen heard from Police Chief Paul Adams who shared that around the country law enforcement departments are seeing fewer candidates for available positions.

Adams said that with all that has gone on in our country in the last year in particular and with news media sources exploiting the situation, the reputation of police officers has been damaged. Because of this and other factors, fewer people are choosing to pursue law enforcement jobs.

Adams said that the last time the Lincoln Police Department did testing for lateral hiring, only two officers were added as a result.

Locally, Adams said that the residency requirement of the city is also hindering the search for new applicants.

Recently, the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council Lodge 208 had worked with the city department to amend the hiring requirements for the city.

The change to the residency requirement is a big plus for the city according to Adams. He noted that the department strives to do lateral hiring, which ultimately means the officers coming into the local department are experienced and trained, and can be ready sooner to take on the full responsibilities of an officer in the department.

He said that expanding the residency will give the city another plus in that it will open the door to “more diversity” within the department.

Adams said the FOP had also drawn into a Memorandum of Understanding, opportunities for the city to recover some of the costs of a new hire if that hire leaves the force within two years of the employment date.

In the MOU there is a reimbursement schedule for costs directly related to new hires such as training and non-reusable equipment. The employee who leaves within six months of hire shall re-pay the city 100 percent of the training and non-reusable equipment costs. If the employee leaves within six to 12 months 75 percent reimbursement is expected. The schedule continues with 50 percent reimbursement for those who leave between 12 and 18 months after employment and 25 percent for those who leave between 18 and 24 months.

The MOU also states that “any or all of the above may be waived by the Chief of Police and Mayor.”

After Adams spoke, aldermen offered no further discussion on the topic and went immediately to the vote, with all eight aldermen affirming the motion unanimously.

[Nila Smith]

See: Lincoln City Council
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Regular Meeting agenda - Pdf
Memorandum of Understanding is on pages 11 and 12