Understaffed Costa Mesa police could be at full strength by July 2016

The city of Costa Mesa projects its long-understaffed Police Department could replenish its ranks as soon as July 2016, according to a memo circulated Monday.

However, City CEO Tom Hatch cautioned at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the date is based on best-case-scenario assumptions such as the department hiring the maximum number of recruits from each upcoming police academy class.

Fully staffed, the Costa Mesa Police Department would boast 136 officers as opposed to the 108 officers working as of Feb. 27, according to the memo prepared by human resources staff.

The department has been working to fill nagging vacancies for years since a hiring freeze and wave of retirements and transfers left the force with dozens of empty positions for sworn personnel.

In 2011, City Council members voted to cut back staffing at the Police Department through attrition.

During that time period, officials also delayed hiring to fill anticipated vacancies as some council members pushed to reduce pension benefits for new recruits.

It wasn’t until the end of 2012 that the department brought in the first new sworn personnel since 2008.

Over the next two years, human resources and police officials ramped up hiring efforts.

The memo lays out a list of tactics to refill the ranks.

For example, the city expedited its testing process for recruits by holding physical, written and interview exams on the same day.

City officials also boosted the number of staffers assigned to recruiting efforts, hired extra background investigative services and ramped up advertising for applicants.

In addition, the Police Department now staffs five training officers, meaning Costa Mesa can hire and train as many as five recruits from each police academy graduating class.

As of Feb. 27, there were 23 recruits at various stages of the hiring process poised to help fill the ranks but only if they complete the academy and field-training process, according to the memo.

“They are not assured to be full officers,” Hatch told council members.

From now on, Hatch said he plans to hire beyond the 136-officer cap to avoid prolonged staffing gaps.

“We’re going to take a different approach in the future of over-hiring and recruiting so that when someone retires ... their replacement is already in the works and going through the field training program so they can be ready to roll right when we start that process,” he said.

The city plans to provide an in-depth presentation on recruitment at another council meeting to address concerns such as the ones raised by Councilwomen Sandy Genis and Katrina Foley that staffing too many rookies as opposed to veteran officers could harm the police force.