5889566 Resolution 21-407, Crime Scene Investigator Hiring Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

21-407

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

February 16, 2016        

 

           

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Retired Police Officer Redeployment Amendment Act of 1992 to allow for the rehiring of retired Metropolitan Police Department officers by the Department of Forensic Sciences without jeopardy to their retirement benefits.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Crime Scene Investigator Hiring Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2016”. 

 

Sec. 2. (a) By removing the financial disincentive to retired Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) officers from being hired as crime scene specialists by the Department of Forensic Sciences, the District benefits from those officers’ many years of highly specialized expertise remaining here in the District, rather than being used in another jurisdiction.

(b) This legislation will also allow MPD to “civilianize” those crime scene investigator positions with civilian professionals, rather than using officers who can be better utilized by patrolling the streets. It is commonsensical that more officers on our streets will help protect our residents, businesses, and visitors.

(c) The underlying emergency legislation was introduced by the Mayor as a provision in the Public Safety and Criminal Code Revisions Amendment Act of 2015, as introduced on September 21, 2015 (Bill 21-357), and was included in the committee print of the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Amendment Act of 2016, passed on 1st reading on February 2, 2016 (Engrossed version of Bill 21-360).

(d) Enactment of this emergency legislation will immediately allow the Department of Forensic Sciences to hire qualified, retired MPD officers as crime scene specialists. Their services are important to ensuring the safety of the District of Columbia.

 

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Crime Scene Investigator Hiring Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2016 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.