My neighbor in Chicago was a cop. We were good friends. I rode with him quite a bit and saw the unionism of it. In fact on night, I overheard on the radio a conversation, [good grief, I just made myself laugh outloud, because we really were actually parked outside of a Dunkin Donuts at the time getting free pastries and coffee] anyway, the conversation between him and another office was similar to this. It had to do with another officer from another district who had been, well, fired in our language. In police language he had been RIF'ed, (reduction in force) or other terms.
They were talking about wether or not to bring him on, and it looked likely. In fact, my friend was trying to recruit me. I may have gone reserve, but moved before anything went forward.
Anyway, I can see how this could happen. If they need cops and they have one ready they don't have to train, and who already has some experience, they are likely to give them the benfit of the doubt.