In an effort to recruit and retain officers to meet the demands of a rapidly growing city, Foley police are receiving better pay and enhanced opportunities.

Foley City Council approved a new pay plan that increases starting salaries for both non-certified and certified officers while providing more avenues for growth and development within the department.

"This is the type of program that we want to do to make sure that we have the very best and are able to maintain the accomplishments and advances we've done over the past 20 years in our department,"  Mayor Ralph Hellmich said. "That's why we brought this program forward."

Under the new plan, entry-level non-certified officers will have a starting salary of $55,206. After three years, officers will be promoted to Police Officer II (PO-II) with a top salary of $97,384. Certified officers joining the agency will immediately start at the PO-II level with a salary of $60,865 and a potential sign-on bonus of up to $5,000.

The number of corporal positions is also increasing from six to 10, with the maximum pay for a corporal set at $102,253. Additionally, the plan permits the police chief to award bonuses to officers with specialized skills, such as language proficiency or certification in polygraph operations. Officers holding the rank of corporal or higher are eligible for a $5,000 longevity bonus after 10 years of service, with additional bonuses for every subsequent five years of service up to 30 years.

These new incentives complement existing benefits for Foley employees, which include annual merit raises, cost of living adjustments, insurance and retirement programs.

Police Chief Thurston Bullock emphasized that the plan benefits both current officers and new recruits, addressing the increased demands for services as Foley grows.

"I also want to thank our men and women of the Police Department because they've been holding a thin line," Bullock said. "This is not just about recruiting. It's as much about retention because we need to help them on that front line."

Recruiting and retaining police officers is a challenge, particularly in one of Alabama's fastest-growing cities.

"We have been able to hire a few, but we have not filled all those positions," Hellmich said. "It's just challenging in this day and time. We want to retain what we have. We want to make sure that they are in it for the long haul. It's a competitive market out here in our county."

Councilman Richard Dayton echoed these sentiments, highlighting the widespread challenge of hiring and keeping quality officers.

"It's not a small town thing. It's a big town thing. It's an every town thing," Dayton said, "Keeping and hiring the best people has to be paramount as we look to the future as we grow our business which is our city."

Incoming officers must meet the physical requirements and standards set by the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (APOST) before being hired by the city.

For more information on the new pay plan and police opportunities, visit https://cityoffoley.org/police-department/.