Prince Albert Opens The Cheque Book To Attract Experienced Officers

It may not make them popular with the top brass in other Saskatchewan municipal police forces but the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) is breaking out the cheque book to recruit four experienced officers.

In a news release PAPS stated they are offering the first four experienced officers who are accepted to join the force in Prince Albert a one time $25,000 relocation incentive.

“This temporary, new incentive has been developed in conjunction with the Prince Albert Police Association to attract more experienced applicants that will help address current vacancies and front-line resource challenge,” the release stated.

“Experienced officers require significantly less time before they are fully operational, having already been trained and working in a police capacity. This incentive program is an idea that came from within the organization, driven by members of the recruiting committee and has the full support of our police association,” Deputy Chief Farica Prince said in the release.

Although the incentive will cost PAPS money the release went on to state that hiring experienced officers has numerous benefits including financial ones for PAPS.

““New recruits require significant training and enhanced oversight, which takes about a year. Offering a financial incentive to experienced officers to encourage them to relocate to our community and work with us will ensure we remain competitive, and continue to attract and retain qualified police officers to serve our community,” Prince said in the news release.

PAPS has hired ten new officers since last fall and presently has four officers training at the Saskatchewan Police College who will graduate later this winter.

The PAPS is using the $25,000 incentive to make up for losses to the force strength due to organizational growth, planned retirements and officers moving to other municipal police forces.

The offer is open to all officers who have received accredited police training in Canada and they are presently employed by an accredited and recognized agency.

There is no word if there will be any response from other Saskatchewan municipal police forces to PAPS incentive in the way of retention bonuses to prevent experienced officers taking Prince Albert up on their financial offer.