Bonuses for police officers considered

A proposal to offer $10,000 signing bonuses to help recruit officers for the police department tops Wednesday’s agenda of the Westminster City Council.

The WPD, with 11 vacancies among sworn positions and nine among police officers, is seeking to attract experienced personnel. Over the past two years the WPD has added 17 new officers, while 21 have left. Eight have transferred to other Orange County law enforcement agencies, including three each to Seal Beach and Irvine, as well as one each to Garden Grove and Anaheim.

According to a staff report, the WPD’s base salary is the third-lowest in Orange County for entry-level positions. The bonus program would follow a similar program in La Habra.

If enacted, qualified lateral transfers – those moving from one agency to another – would receive the bonus in two installments of $5000 each. The first payment would be upon hiring and the second after an 18-month probation period.

The cost of the program would come from existing salary savings and would not require a new appropriation by the city council.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd.