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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Lieutenant Bill Rowley
DATE: April 9, 2023
SUBJECT:
Resolution approving anticipated payments not to exceed $122,000.00 to Macon County Law Enforcement for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2024.
PURPOSE:
Approval of payments is required to send police recruits through the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center (MCLETC), a partnership with Richland Community College and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. This includes wearables (uniforms/PT sets), OC Spray training, classroom/online training, lodging, and meals.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 2020, the State of Illinois reimbursed police officers' basic academy training from State funds directly to the academy. In January 2020, the State informed municipalities across Illinois that they would be required to pay for basic police officer training, with the possibility of future reimbursement by the State.
In 2022, the State of Illinois began to reimburse a portion of these costs under the provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act, 50ILCS 705/9(2). In 2022 the Illinois Training and Standards Board (ILESTB) reimbursed the City of Aurora $12,548.00 for recruit police officers who attended basic police academy between 07/01/21 and 06/30/22.
In 2023, ILETSB reimbursed the City of Aurora $78,406.00 for recruit police officers who attended basic police academy between 07/01/22 and 06/30/23. These payments are aligned with the State of Illinois fiscal year, and the next payment cycle will be considered for recruits who attend basic police academy between 07/01/23 and 06/30/24. The City of Aurora has not yet received reimbursement for this cycle.
The current cost per recruit, including room and board, wearables, and OC Spray training, are approximately $7,400 for those recruits attending the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center.
In 2024 the Aurora Police Department anticipates that we will hire as many as (15) police officers who will be required to attend a basic police academy. The remainder of the estimated hires will likely be those officers who are previously certified via other jurisdictions, "lateral hires" and will not need to attend basic police academy.
DISCUSSION:
The primary purpose of the police academy is to prepare new officers for a career in law enforcement. The academy provides basic training for recruits to become certified Illinois Law Enforcement Officers. This certification requires that recruits successfully complete a 560-hour (14-week) comprehensive training course. The police department has used the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately three years. Other academies have either been unable to meet our standards or have been unable to grant us the number of slots needed to train our recruits annually.
Approval is requested for the entirety of 2024 wherein the total amount to send these 15 additional recruits to the Macon County Law Enforcement Center academy is approximately $111,000.00.00. Our total anticipated police academy costs will be $122,000.00. Our 2024 budget provides $249,000.00 in account 101-3536-421.42-48 to pay for basic academy training.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
If the basic academy training costs are not approved, it will prevent us from maintaining police staffing levels and negatively impact public safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Authorization of the ratification and approval of recruit training expense for a total amount of $122,000.00 for the calendar year 2024.
cc: Public Health, Safety, and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution approving estimated payments in the amount of $122,000.00 to Macon County Law Enforcement in partnership with Richland Community College for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2024.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois provides a partial reimbursement to the City for costs associated with basic recruit police academy; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Police Department has been utilizing the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center for approximately four years; and
WHEREAS, The Aurora Police Department anticipates the hiring of approximately (15) police officers who will require basic recruit police academy training and certification; and
WHEREAS, The City of Aurora must have new recruits trained at the police academy before they are assigned to patrol the streets of Aurora, IL; and
WHEREAS, funding for basic academy training is budgeted for 2024 in 101-3536-421.42-48.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: approval of anticipated payments not to exceed $122,000.00 to Macon County Law Enforcement for police recruit training, lodging, and meals in 2024, and authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to execute the necessary orders to complete.