In an effort to attract new police officers from out of state, the Arcata City Council recently amended a program that gives recruits a $50,000 bonus.

Snagging officers who have already passed California’s Peace Officer’s Standards and Training course (or putting out-of-state cops through requalification classes) is vastly more economical than starting with a totally green officer. According to the staff report shared at the meeting, it’s $15,000 cheaper than sponsoring a new recruit through a police academy. It also allows police officers to start working sooner. Many states have similar training programs to California’s, and getting them certified to work in California can take less than a month. 

APD has offered the bonuses since 2023, but the previous language of the policy didn’t include out-of-state lateral hires. Six officers have been hired through the program, although APD Lt. Chris Ortega told the Outpost in an interview today that not all of them are still with the department. 

New hires don’t get all $50,000 at once. They receive $10,000 five different times over two and a half years: when they get their first paycheck, on completion of a Field Training Program, and after being employed for nine months, 18 months, and two and a half years. 

“Arcata Police Department needs a continuous infusion of sworn personnel to maintain patrol and specialty positions,” reads the staff report. “…Like many Public Safety Departments throughout the state and nationwide, the Arcata Police Department (APD) has a shortage of sworn police officers.”

Ortega said APD was hovering around 27 officers, though they’d like to have around 30. Around four officers either have retired or plan to this year. 

The city council didn’t discuss the policy during the meeting, held on June 18, which was approved as part of the consent calendar.

“As far as our objective to put officers on the streets, this will have a huge impact to our community,” Ortega said. “This will allow us to provide the level of service our community expects.”