Story Created:
Jul 2, 2012 at 10:24 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Apr 1, 2013
City Council members went back and forth tonight on whether command positions within the police department should hold a college degree.
The police department and the City of Laredo are currently in collective bargaining agreement negotiations and members discussed whether city council was the proper place to discuss the requirements. Some council members felt other members of council were flip-flopping on college degree requirements.
Cindy Liendo \ District VIII Council member
"A lot of you were just going on and on about how wonderful experience is and how you don't need it to be the chief of police. Now your saying, since now you need it for your chief, we're going to use your words against you and say you have to have it for your Lieutenants , Sergeants and I just think it's unfair."
City Council tonight has recommended college credit requirements in command positions amongst the police department. In the recommendation current officers in command positions will not be affected unless they apply for a promotion position. Sixty hours of college credit which is the equivalent of an associates degree could be required for a lieutenant position.
Ninety hours could be required to hold the captain position. Assistant police chief positions could soon require a bachelor's degree. These credit hours must be earned within two years of the promotion. City officials say this is a recommendation and it will be discussed within the collective bargaining agreement.
