Victoria Police Offer $ 20,000 Recruitment Bonus in Attempt to Put Boots Down | The Canadian News

Add the Victoria Police Department to the list of employers getting creative in a tough job market.

The police force seeks to increase its front-line resources quickly through a witty recruiting video and a five-figure cash hiring bonus for seasoned officers.

“A $ 20,000 incentive for experienced police officers to join the Victoria Police Department,” explained Victoria Police Chief Del Manak.

“This offer is a limited-time offer for the next 12 police officers we would hire.”

The force expects the crop of new officers to patrol quickly by specifically recruiting experienced officers who can be hired in a matter of days or weeks, compared to training new recruits, which could take up to a year.

Manak said the department is missing 35 officers.

“That’s mainly because the officers were injured and they didn’t suffer occupational stress injuries and all that,” he said.

There have also been a number of recent retirements, which according to Victoria City Police Union President Matt Waterman reflect the challenges officers face in the capital city.

Victoria has the worst crime severity rate in British Columbia for a city patrolled by a municipal police force, and Waterman said the region-wide problems tend to be concentrated in the city center.

“There are people who retire, I would say before, because it is not always the most desirable career for everyone today,” he said.

“The police officer doesn’t necessarily want to be the mental health worker. Or the addiction counselor, but we are forced to do so because there are no other support services available. “

The pressures of high call volume combined with what some see as a lack of support amid the underfunding of the police movement has also taken its toll, he said.

In addition to the challenges the union presents, VicPD faces competition from another source – the soon to be launched Surrey Police Service.

In a recent interview with CKNW, Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer said the force had recruited 20 VPD officers and that he believed dozens more could follow them.

Despite the challenges, Manak said the response to the recruitment drive has been very positive.

“It’s literally day one and we’ve already seen applications coming in and I know more are on the way,” he said.