Following in the footsteps of other nearby cities, Oakley has agreed to offer monetary incentives to try to beef up its police staffing levels in what has become a highly competitive market.
The City Council unanimously approved a one-time $10,000 bonus for qualified candidates joining the force last week. The incentives will be paid from $250,000 in American Rescue Money Funds.
Under the program, candidates will be paid half the incentive when they pass the field training program, which is usually between seven to 12 weeks from hire date depending on experience, and the other half following the 12-month probation period. A $2,500 bonus also will be given to the seven officers hired between July 1, 2021, and October of this year, and to any current employee who successfully recruits an officer.
Oakley’s police department currently has and one sergeant and six officer vacancies while another seven are out on injuries or extended leaves, according to Human Resources Director Jeri Tejeda.
“Qualified experienced officers are very hard to find right now,” she told the council. “We are not alone. It’s happening in every city. And we’re doing everything in our power to entice them to want to be part of the city of Oakley family.”
Antioch approved a similar measure in September, but offering $30,000 over a five-year period.
Other cities have also offered bonuses, including Pittsburg at $15,000 for police transferring in, Palo Alto at $25,000 for laterals and $10,000 for academy graduates, and Alameda up to $30,000. Alameda County Sheriff’s Office offers a $12,000 hiring bonus for academy graduates and $10,000 for deputy sheriff recruits.
Unlike other police departments in the area, Oakley does not currently sponsor recruits to attend an academy, which makes it a little more difficult to hire, Tejada said.
“They (candidates) must pass the academy and have a basic POST (state Peace Officer Standards and Training) certificate before they can apply,” she said. “We hope to be able to expand that in the future as we continue to grow; we’re just not quite there yet.”
And, while some departments short of staff have lowered their criteria, that’s not the case in Oakley, Tejada said.
Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard agreed.
“I can firmly tell you we have not changed our standards at all,” he said. “This agency has gone through four chiefs and I have not taken the stance we are going to change our standards to hire more bodies. I only want the best.”
Some of Oakley’s ARPA monies will also go toward advertising the openings, Tejada said, noting Oakley has the second highest pay and benefits package of all seven similar-sized cities in Contra Costa, with only San Ramon higher. Recently, some billboards went up in the San Joaquin Valley in an effort to recruit officers, she said.
“We’re a short hour drive away, and we make significantly more than the officers are making,” Tejada said.
Oakley pays $100,311 to $ 134,426.96.47 depending on an officer’s work experience. Pay for police sergeants range from $126,133.28 to $160,981.58 annually.
The police force is currently budgeted for 40 officers, including the chief and two lieutenants, according to Oakley City Manager Joshua McMurray.
Tejada said that some officers may want to hire might be tied to previous contracts with another city due to academy training there, but Oakley could buy them out to get them to move sooner.
Former East Contra Costa Fire Chief and council candidate Hugh Henderson said he supported the incentive program.
“I’m here just to support you in moving forward with this,” he said. “Anything you can add to enhance in this job market right now to create more police officers for the city.”
All of the council members said they supported incentives, but Councilman George Fuller wanted to know if there was a method for payback if someone quit early.
“I really want to see this, but I really don’t want to see someone show up in 12 months and collect their $10,000 and leave in 18 months,” he said.
Tejada, however, said there is no payback included in the program.
Fuller also asked if salaries and asked when theory would be increasing.
Tejada said the city has a five-year contract with the POA that includes 5% step increases and 3% annual cost-of-living increases that happen in the last three years.
Mayor Randy Pope, himself a 30-year police officer and sergeant with a neighboring city, said many officers “feel like they have war declared against them and many are choosing to not do it anymore.”
“I would say almost every single police department in the nation is struggling with this (hiring officers),” he said. “This isn’t unique to Oakley. They are all coming up with creative ideas for attracting qualified applicants. We need to also.”
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Source: www.mercurynews.com