No bonuses planned for new police hires
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Financial incentives won’t be used by Sault Ste. Marie Police Service to help recruit officers to its ranks.
Timmins Police Service recently announced a $30,000 sweetener to land experienced talent. The municipal force in the city of 42,000 will cover Ontario Police College tuition for new officers. Prince Albert Police Service in Saskatchewan offered $25,000 to attract four experienced officers in August 2022.
Chief Hugh Stevenson says similar incentives won’t be rolled out by the Sault service. His department has “an excellent pool of candidates” to draw from who already work as special constables.
“I think we have enough incentives in the Sault area both from a quality of life standpoint and a policing family,” he told reporters following the open portion of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Board’s meeting last Thursday. “We’re not in that position to need to do that at this time.”
New hires “usually” have family in the city who help cement their decision to come to the Sault.
Nineteen officers are eligible to retire in the next three years.
On Twitter: @Saultreporter
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