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CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com

HIRING INCENTIVES APPROVED FOR POLICE

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (APRIL 27, 2023) – The Town of Middletown is getting more competitive with the hiring of police officers. 

Facing longer odds bringing in recruits — or those looking to transfer from other departments — the Town Council recently approved new incentives intended to help hire and retain officers.

The incentives include a $5,000 bonus to recruits who successfully complete their one-year probationary period. Those who transfer from other departments — commonly called “laterals” — can receive the $5,000 bonus and be paid at a salary commensurate with their years of service.

Police Chief Anthony M. Pesare said while Middletown remains one of the best departments — and communities to work for — in the state, it’s tough to fill vacancies when others are offering bonuses and other perks.

“This is a nationwide problem,” Pesare said. “Police officers are resigning and retiring in droves and so what’s happened is there’s an inability to recruit. At the present time, being a police officer isn’t exactly the No. 1 job people seek out.”

Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said after doing in depth research into the issue, the bonuses were needed to help Middletown Police remain competitive with other communities. 

“It makes a lot of sense,” Brown said. “It makes us more competitive to recruit someone to work for the Town of Middletown.” 

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues agreed, saying it wasn’t just the Police Department seeing an uphill climb with new hires.

“It’s not just police departments, it’s everywhere,” Rodrigues said. “We’re starting to see it in the schools as well, teachers and principals, being poached by your neighbors. That never happened before. It’s different times we’re living in but I think we have to make Middletown competitive and the place it wants to be.”  

Councilman Christopher Logan said he was concerned as well about keep the high-quality officers Middletown already has. While commending the current group of officers, the town administrator Brown said that was something he and his staff were already working on and the subject of ongoing discussions with the police union leadership.

“I know recruitment is an issue, but what about retention?” Councilman Christopher Logan asked. “I’m a little concerned about retention because other agencies across the state are offering bonuses and what have you, what are we doing to retain the police officers we really want to retain?”

Currently, Middletown is in the midst of a hiring drive for new officers. The new bonus was included in the advertising of those positions. To apply, visit https://mdl.town/Police online.

“We’re in an environment where police officers are moving from department to department with a lateral transfer and they’re looking for better benefits, better retirement, maybe a second retirement,” Pesare said. “Right now, there are 18 police departments in Rhode Island that are recruiting police officers and lateral transfers.”

Document Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/8482/NYCU-Police

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