The Jonesboro City Council waived second and third readings on an ordinance to give pay increases to the Jonesboro Police Department. That means that officers will immediately see a bump in their pay, which many have criticized as being very low at just over $31,000 a year. The Jonesboro City Council approved a step plan that would give raises over numbers of years of service. Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliot says the plan will help in retaining and recruiting more officers for the future.
"We are excited about this because now we can be more competitive with other cities across the state and the nation in recruiting more people to the police force," said Elliot. "We are also looking at hiring more certified officers, which could cut our training costs down significantly."
Elliot provided the plan that would start officers off at $34,500 and will provide raises in years 1, 3, 5, 7,10, 15, and 20. The maximum that an officer could make after 20 years would be over $51,000.
Sergeants would start off at $52,000 and max out at $60,000 after ten years, Lieutenants would start off at $61,000 and max out at $70,000 in seven years, Captains would start off at $71,000 and max out at $81,000 in five years, the Assistant Chief would start off at $82,000 and max out at $92,000 in five years and the chief would start out at $96,000 and max out at $108,000 in five years.
He says the goal is to use the pay plan to build up the police force.
"We have been about 77 officers down over the past couple of years and I am hopeful that we can buildup our force. As Jonesboro continues to grow, then we need to grow as well to make sure all of our citizens are protected."
Rick Elliot. The police step pay plan will cost over $646,000. The city council will start looking at step plans for non-uniformed employees in Jonesboro in about two weeks.
