NCJ Number
111538
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 36 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1988) Pages: 37-40
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
While retention of qualified police officers is an occasional problem for all departments, it may be a major concern for smaller departments located on the fringes of major metropolitan areas.
Abstract
Such departments frequently lose officers to higher paying departments. This was the case in the Lake in the Hills Police Department near Chicago. A survey of the police salary structure in the Chicago metropolitan area indicated that salaries were not competitive. Since the Department lacked the resources to match salaries of larger departments, a career enhancement plan was developed to increase the intrinsic rewards of the work. Lateral responsibilities of officers were increased, and all officers are responsible for followup investigations of all cases for which they take the initial field report. Specialized schooling was dramatically increased. In addition to training selected by the department (e.g., interview and interrogation, breath-alcohol training), officers were polled as to their areas of interest. Officers receiving specialized training agree to reimburse the department if they voluntarily leave within a year of training and to discuss their training at departmental meetings. In addition, a formal education reimbursement program is available to officers seeking college courses or degrees. 2 tables.