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Richland Council approves lateral-hire incentives for police department, including vacation credit and relocation pay
Summary
Council approved Resolution 2025-110 to create a lateral hiring package for the Richland Police Department with step placement based on years of service, vacation credit including 80 hours on hire, and a $5,000 relocation allowance for out-of-area hires.
The Richland City Council on July 1 adopted Resolution 2025-110, establishing a lateral-hire incentive package for the Richland Police Department intended to attract experienced sworn officers.
Police Chief Marty Pilcher described the proposal, defining a police lateral as someone with at least two consecutive years of full-time, commissioned law-enforcement experience. Chief Pilcher said lateral hires would be placed at a pay step commensurate with prior years of service, receive 80 hours of vacation credited on hire, accrue leave at a level matching prior service, and be eligible for a $5,000 relocation allowance if they move at least 100 miles to take a Richland position.
"A lateral will be hired at a step commensurate with the number of years of service they've had previously," Chief Pilcher said. He stressed that the department does not relax background standards for laterals; backgrounds and internal checks are exhaustive and may take longer than other agencies.
Council members asked about background checks and trade-offs between hiring experienced officers who may lack formal educational qualifications the city sometimes prefers. Chief Pilcher said the department reviews records closely and looks at candidates holistically, including prior employment, background investigations and professional conduct.
Council moved to adopt Resolution 2025-110. The motion carried by voice vote and was recorded as 6-0 in favor.
The resolution codifies existing moving-allowance practice into an MOU and allows laterals to reduce the time to reach top-step pay in some cases. Specific dollar figures for pay-step impacts beyond the $5,000 relocation allowance, and any budget adjustments, were not specified during the meeting.
