by KYW's Mike Dunn
Mayor Nutter is making it easier for the Philadelphia Police Department to bring in new recruits, with a policy change made in light of the city's crime emergency.
Nutter has announced that the Civil Service Commission is lifting the longstanding requirement that people who want to work for the department live in the city for at least one year before they can even apply:
"We have a very serious issue here in the city. We want as many police officers on the street ready to go as possible, to get into the (police academy class) and be able to come out (for duty) next year. And there is a sense of urgency of getting this done right now."
During his campaign for mayor, Nutter called it "crazy" that people who move to Philadelphia wanting to get a job with the city have to wait a year before they can apply. Under the new policy, Police Academy graduates will have six months to move into the city.
Deputy commissioner Jack Gaittens say the department will immediately ramp up recruiting efforts:
"...including taking site visits to other cities, electronic billboards, news media, radio."
Gaittens says the incoming police academy class has 150 slots but is only one-third full. Nutter hopes that legislation now before City Council will make the change permanent -- and extend the new policy to all city jobs.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
