Detroit is spending $500,000 to spread the word about hundreds of police force openings that start at $40,732 a year. Rookies hired after July begin at $42,000.
A recruiting campaign launched in late January uses two new online videos (below), posters and billboards, The Detroit News says.
"We've got the money to hire 200 officers right now," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said. "The budget isn't the problem anymore."
The ultimate goal is to recruit enough candidates to eventually make 400 hires [before 2021], Duggan said. ... "We're hoping to bust the myth that we don't have resources. We are making huge investments in the department. ...
Now that the city is six years out of bankruptcy, the highly visible recruiting push is attempting to show candidates that Detroit has emerged from financial distress and can afford to pay its law enforcement officers better.
When James Craig rejoined the Detroit Police Department as chief in 2013 ... starting pay was $29,000 a year, he said.
The force hired 304 officers last year, First Assistant Chief Lashinda Stair tells James David Dickson of the paper.
Benefits include paid training, health insurance (medical/prescription after 91 days; dental and vision after six months), seven paid holidays each year, up to 20 vacation days and a retirement plan.
Applicants must be U.S. citizen over 18 with a driver's license and high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED). People with felony convictions aren't considered, naturally.
► More information and application details are here.
Two new videos:
