Sign-on bonuses and employee referral benefits for the city’s police and fire departments got whole-hearted approval from the Demopolis City Council Thursday, but at least one councilman said the bonuses will not get to the root of the problem of retaining trained first responders.
The Council approved a $5,000 sign-on bonus for Certified Police Officers and Firefighters and a $1,000 bonus to a city employee who refers a certified officer or firefighter who hires on with the city.
Recently two firefighters whose training had been paid for by the city left for Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa department reimbursed Demopolis $17,000 for the remaining time on the officers’ two-year contracts, but it leaves this city without a full complement of officers.
Police Chief Rex Flowers said it costs the city $25,442.24 for training for each recruit. For firefighters, the total cost of training per recruit is $27,101.09.