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Eureka Police Department highlights officer wellness, training and benefits in recruitment presentation
Summary
In a brief recruitment presentation, Chief Michael Worges and Eureka officers described department wellness programs, training opportunities and a benefits package that includes free health care and a retirement plan administered through Missouri LAGERS.
Chief Michael Worges of the Eureka Police Department said the department is promoting officer wellness, training and benefits as part of a recruitment effort and described specific supports available to new hires.
"Here at the Eureka Police Department, we believe in being everyone's police," Chief Michael Worges said. "An average officer is exposed to almost 200 critical incidents over the course of their career." He contrasted that with the public, saying "an average person might experience 2 or 3. So it's very important to maintain their physical and mental wellness."
Worges said the department offers a nearly 1,000-square-foot fitness room and has begun providing counseling for officers. "This state of the art facility has a almost thousand square foot fitness room that is very well done. We also value the mental side of wellness, right? So we just completed this week, offering counseling to all of our officers," he said.
Worges described the department's pay and benefits package, saying Eureka offers competitive pay, free health care for officers with a zero-deductible plan and a traditional retirement plan through Missouri LAGERS. He also described internal opportunities for continuing education and specialty assignments, including firearms instructor and school resource officer roles.
An officer who spoke during the presentation encouraged prospective applicants, saying, "If you even have the thought of being a police officer... you should just do it. It's fun. It's different every single day. You're never gonna have the same thing, and you never know what's next, ever."
Another officer described the community connection as a motivation to serve. "The reason I chose to come back to my community and serve because I valued the feel of Eureka. I'm not policing for a paycheck. I'm policing for my friends and my neighbors," the officer said.
The presentation emphasized recruitment, retention and wellness supports but did not include specifics about application deadlines, hiring targets or salary figures.
The department did not present a formal action or vote during the recorded remarks.
