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Hollywood Park police chief urges pay increases, hiring bonuses to address officer shortages
Summary
Police Chief Fred Pritchard told the City Council at its Aug. 25 budget workshop that Hollywood Park’s police staffing has fallen far enough that the department is “truly struggling,” and he urged a mix of pay adjustments, hiring bonuses and retention incentives to stabilize the force.
Police Chief Fred Pritchard told the Hollywood Park City Council on Aug. 25 that the department is short-staffed and that pay increases and targeted hiring incentives are needed to recruit and retain officers. "We are truly struggling," Pritchard said, summarizing the department’s personnel position and regional recruitment trends.
Pritchard said Hollywood Park currently is short three patrol officers and could soon lose a fourth, leaving the department undermanned. He briefed the council on regional comparisons that show Hollywood Park’s starting pay below the median for nearby agencies. "For reference ... our starting pay for a rookie officer with no experience is $55,000 a year," he said, and told the council a target of roughly $60,000 to…
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