DETROIT (WWJ) – In an effort to stem the tide of losing police officers to other cities, the Detroit Police Department is rolling out a bold plan to try and keep its men and women in uniform from leaving.
DPD officials say there have been more than 120 officers leave department for other agencies since the start of 2021, including 19 in just over two months of 2022.
That's why the department announced on Tuesday all sworn officers will receive a $2,000 retention incentive bonus and all police assistants will receive $1,000 retention bonuses.
Detroit City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve the bonuses, which will impact more than 2,000 sworn officers across the city.
Detroit Police Chief James White said he hopes the bonuses will help the DPD "stop losing those quality and well trained officers" throughout the department.
"I don't want to paint the picture of doom and gloom – I mean, we've got dedicated men and women – but the fact of the matter is, we do tread out a number of officers to suburban agencies around this city," White said.
It doesn't surprise White that neighboring agencies are often looking to go after Detroit police officers, though.
"Our officers put in tremendous hours and are exposed to a number of different challenges and things," White said. "As a result, they become the most experienced in the shortest amount of time, which makes them the officers that a lot of our surrounding agencies want to recruit."
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the bonuses will total nearly $5 million and will be paid out of the department's general fund and overtime budget, as well as with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
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