Vallejo California City Council Mulls Plan for $2M in Police Recruitment, Retention Bonuses

The Vallejo City Council has a packed agenda for Tuesday's meeting, with seven action items, three of which are public safety-related, including a proposed $2 million to help recruit and retain police officers.

The $2 million item includes a bonus of $15,000 per hire to recruit experienced police officers, $15,000 per officer to incentivize existing officers not to quit and bonuses of $5,000 each to officers who refer successful job candidates.

The item was initially included as a consent calendar item at the June 10 council meeting. Consent calendar items are generally routine housekeeping items that are quickly passed without discussion. However, at least one member of the public protested, and the council set it aside for future consideration as an action item.

The council is also scheduled to consider a proposed notice of intent to appropriate $1.2 million for public safety measures meant to reduce violence in Vallejo. The measures were hammered out at last week's council meeting.

There are five measures: Security towers, a block party program, a safety-oriented school program, subsidizing park programs for youth and VISION, a new approach to reducing gun violence.

Additionally, Police Chief Jason Ta is scheduled to give the council an update on public safety staffing in Vallejo and steps the police department is taking regarding recruitment and retention.

The Vallejo Police Department has been understaffed for years, creating a formally recognized state of emergency declared by the city in July 2023. The shortage has led to delayed response times, among other issues.

An agreement that would have gone a long way toward alleviating the emergency is on hold. It would have allowed Solano County Sheriff's employees to patrol Vallejo from noon to midnight seven days a week.

However, it was delayed by Solano County supervisors in June due to issues including the disapproval of the Solano County Deputy Sheriff's Association and the staffing effects of a CalPERS audit.

The council is also set to get an update on a list of issues council members asked city staff to pursue. Council members also will discuss the current process for getting an item on the agenda of a council meeting.

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