Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Scranton Police Chief Thomas Carroll recently welcomed two new officers to the department — the first hired through the department’s lateral transfer program.
In a ceremony on March 6, Officers Richard Stevens and Peter Hilburn were sworn in, as the first officers hired through the program, a pathway designed for currently certified officers to join the department and bring their experience to serve the Scranton community.
Scranton City Council approved the program included in an ordinance at a September meeting.
Stevens and Hilburn are now completing the department’s field training program to prepare them for duty in city neighborhoods.
The lateral transfer program is designed to bypass the city’s lengthy civil service process on hiring entry-level police officers.
Certified officers looking to advance their career with the department are encouraged to consider joining the Scranton department, which is Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program accredited, equipping officers with state-of-the art technology.
According to the September ordinance, the city “is staunchly committed to merit-based hiring and transparent employment practices,” but at times may “be unable to fill vacant entry-level police officer positions in a timely manner, necessary to meet the city’s public safety needs under the current Civil Service competitive testing procedures.”
Under the previous civil service commission examination process and state-required Act 120 certification through the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, it often took about 18 months before newly hired officers began active service with the department.
Qualified applicants who have already gone through the Act 120 certification and training can now join the department much more quickly.
Peer cities of Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Allentown and Reading already have this program in place to facilitate the hiring of Act 120-certified officers for public safety.
Monday Update
Then: In September, Scranton City Council approved the Scranton Police Department’s lateral transfer program, a hiring pathway designed to bring in experienced, already-certified law enforcement officers from other agencies, allowing them to join the department without starting over as a new recruit.
Now: Earlier this month, the Police Department welcomed Officers Peter Hilburn and Richard Stevens as the first two officers hired through the lateral transfer program.