Chandler offers hiring incentive for police positions to boost recruitment

PHOENIX — The city of Chandler announced on Monday it would begin offering incentives to boost recruitment for positions in the Chandler Police Department.

Lateral sworn police officers – either those from a different city or agency – will receive $5,000, while $3,500 will be given to new recruits and $2,000 for detention officers and dispatchers.

Those hired will receive half of the money at the time of hiring and the other half upon completion of a probationary period, according to a press release.

“This is a national recruitment effort on our part, this is a way to attract talent in the police industry to Chandler from markets around the entire country,” Matt Burdick, communications and public affairs director for the city, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“There is obviously a lot of competition both in the Valley and nationally for people in the police industry and so this is a way for us to remain competitive…as well as really trying to provide a mechanism that will attract the best of the best from police agencies around the country.”

Burdick said funding for the incentives comes from a combination of general fund dollars and American Rescue Plan Act funds provided to the city.

The city is looking to fill around 40 vacancies due to upcoming retirements and new positions, with Burdick adding incentives would likely be in place for the next few years.

Burdick said the department is seeing a smaller number of recruits, but “we are also seeing better quality of candidates.”

“This is a way to continue that trend of attracting talent to our city.”

Chief Sean Duggan previously said the department has an authorized sworn complement of 334 officers, the same amount as in 2008.

The number of officers was reduced to 320 in 2014 through attrition due to the recession before 14 officers were added in the years following.

Chandler’s budget for the next fiscal year would add 12 new police positions along with 15 overfill positions, allowing individuals to be hired and trained while current officers continue serving the community, according to the release.

The Chandler City Council will consider the proposed budget during regularly scheduled meetings on Thursday and June 10.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Debra Dale and Ali Vetnar contributed to this report. 

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