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Milwaukee in Need of Police
Milwaukee is hoping a $10,000 sign-on bonus is enough to lure police officers to the city.
The city on Monday announced cash payouts to current police officers who switch departments.
“We need more police officers, and I want for there to be more police officers in Milwaukee," Mayor Cavalier Johnson told reporters.
But it’s more than just Johnson’s desire to add more people officers.
The new state law that gave Milwaukee the ability to create a new citywide sales tax requires the city of Milwaukee to hire new officers.
That state law requires Milwaukee to hire 1,700 new police officers over the next decade.
"For years and for decades, other municipalities have poached, have borrowed, have taken law enforcement officers from Milwaukee,” Alderman Peter Burgelis said. “Now Milwaukee will have the opportunity to get officers back and increase our numbers.”
"I'm optimistic that there are talented, caring officers who hear this invitation and say to themselves, that's a place I want to go," Mayor Johnson said.
"With more police officers, we can better address public safety concerns, from violent crime to quality-of-life issues that matter to our residents," Burgelis added.
Any officer that takes the $10,000 sign-on bonus would still have to go to the police academy, take a Milwaukee Police specific training program, and then stay with the Milwaukee Police Department for at least four years.
Pay for Milwaukee police officers ranges from $63,500 to $84,744 per-year. The city’s Fire and Police Commission said all new hires will earn salaries based on their years of experience.
Any applications for the first round of sign-on bonuses are due by December 22nd.
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