Durham Police Offers Financial Incentives To Recruit New Officers
DURHAM, NC — It is tough to find police officers, and Durham has been struggling with shortages. Now, the police department is rising to the challenge with some new recruiting strategies.
Durham Police Department (DPD), according to a report by WRAL, now pays its officers a minimum of $60 an hour for picking up extra shifts — a nice perk to attract new officers and encourage current officers to help out even more.
“It’s almost double their normal salary rate,” says Sgt. Jessica Butler.
Other incentives include:
- $10,000 signing bonus
- $3,000 relocation bonus
- 12 weeks paid family leave for men and women
Butler says incentives aside – she believes DPD’s reputation helps them get the best.
“You ask anybody in the state where you go to get the best training, and it’s the Durham Police Department,” says Butler.
They’ve also made applying even easier.
One of the first steps to becoming a police officer is passing a physical fitness test. Applicants used to have to come into the police headquarters for the test, but now police are able to take the test on the road.
“If you want to reach more candidates you have to reach them where they’re at,” says Sgt. Jessica Butler. The department has a trailer that allows them to take all the equipment they need to wherever applicants are.
Durham police are also working to expand the take-home car program, allowing it to cover everything up to 15 miles from headquarters.
The Durham Police Department says in the short amount of time they’ve had the new incentives – they’re already working. The department has seen an uptick in applicants.
For more information on how to apply, click here.
