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Council authorizes Saint Petersburg College sponsorships for police academy and paramedic training
Summary
The council authorized purchase orders to Saint Petersburg College to sponsor police academy cadets (estimated 16 cadets at $5,000 each, $80,000) and paramedic training for Clearwater Fire Rescue (estimated $37,000), plus additional advanced training budgets for current staff.
City officials told the council on Nov. 3 that the Clearwater Police Department and Clearwater Fire Rescue will continue sponsorship programs with Saint Petersburg College to address recruitment and training needs. The police sponsorships help offset the Southeastern Public Safety Institute (SEPI) academy costs; the academy is a roughly 790‑hour program preparing recruits for local department training and field work.
Lieutenant Mike Casey said the department requires cadets to sign a contract to repay the sponsorship if they leave employment within a specified period (commonly two years) after completing field training. Police academy sponsorships were estimated at $5,000 per cadet; the department estimated up to 16 sponsorships in FY26 (approximately $80,000). An additional $20,000 was requested for advanced training for current officers.
Clearwater Fire Rescue requested approximately $37,000 to sponsor new EMTs through paramedic school and $18,000 for advanced training for existing personnel. Council approved the purchase orders and staff noted that sponsorships are an important recruitment tool amid regional workforce shortages.
