The Salem City Council has voted down a plan to offer bonuses for new police officers.
Police Chief Sean Reynolds had proposed a bonus of $2,500 to an officer hired off the eligibility list and a bonus of around $5,000 for an officer completing a lateral transfer from another department. He told the council the bonus to experienced officers would pay for itself in not having the training expense and overtime to cover a position until a new officer is trained.
“This is about keeping the police deparment professional, saving the city money overall, and having good, qualified police officers working here, and not having to train new people. Because we are going to be losing our top people and we are going to have a young department here before long.”
Reynolds fears not getting the best candidates and having another short eligibility list when a new test is given in December. But he admitted he couldn’t say if the sign on bonus would make a difference or not.
Councilwoman Amy Troutt felt the Salem Police Department was already a destination point and questioned the importance of a signing bonus.
“Those things are going to come in the benefits package and their long term sustainability in their salaries. I wanna make sure were competitive in our salaries and in the benefits package, and those things that retain long term employees. Im concerned that the bonus is a band-aid and I have a hard time believing it’s really enough to recruit and maintain a good employee.”
Councilman Craig Morton thought if the city was going to offer a sign on bonus they should do it for all employees. Public Works Director Annette Brushwitz said she wasn’t having trouble finding employees and didn’t feel the bonus was necessary, but later noted the move could create some friction since her employees start at only 70-percent of the salary they will earn after five years.
Mayor Nic Farley didn’t like the timing.
“I think in its current iteration the council didn’t have enough details to feel like they were comfortable moving forward. I’m not saying it’s something we wouldn’t do in the future but at this time we didn’t have enough details to make a conscious decision to move forward.”
Farley says if there is still a concern, the sign on bonus could be discussed again in the spring.
The only vote in favor of the bonus came from councilman Jim Koehler.
