Wis. Chief Asks for Increase in Lateral Hire Bonuses to Help Staffing Woes

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI — Chippewa Falls Police Chief Ryan Douglas said his department has been fully staffed, with everyone working shifts and no one out with an injury or in training, for just seven months in the past 10 years. It has meant a constant cycle of hiring officers.

With the Chippewa Falls Police Department perpetually having vacancies, the city might turn to increasing an incentive to hire officers from nearby agencies.

Douglas asked the city’s labor and personnel committee to consider an increase to the ‘lateral incentive,’ encouraging police officers from other agencies to come work for the city. He wasn’t sure what would be an appropriate incentive offer.

“Right now, we are five short. We do have one lateral transfer we are interviewing today,” Douglas said. “We do experience one or two employees leaving a year. This year, we’ve had three.”

The Police Department, at full staff, has 27 officers. Because of the current shortage, they don’t have an officer participating in the West Central Drug Task Force.

Douglas told the committee there could be immediate benefits by increasing the bonus. New Chippewa Falls officers go through a 16-week training period, then remain on probation for 18 months, to make sure they are a good fit for the department and the community.

“If we get a lateral, it cuts down on the hiring and training. We could have a lateral up and running in 30 days,” Douglas said.

The current incentive is $5,000. Councilman Scott Sullivan said he’s open to increasing that incentive if it will improve public safety.

Douglas said they have not had a transfer from outside of Wisconsin, but he believes there is a state reimbursement program.

Councilman Paul Nadreau said he dislikes the idea of stealing away quality officers from neighboring municipalities. But Councilman John Monarski said it’s a common practice.

“That’s the nature of business — you go after your competitor’s best players,” Monarski said.

The council members generally agreed that if the transfer incentive were increased, it would be for police and firefighter/EMTs. While the committee discussed the topic, no action was taken at the meeting.

A decade ago, the patrol staff changed to working 12-hour shifts, which had the benefit of giving officers every other weekend off. Douglas said that is now a pretty standard shift in law enforcement.

Twenty years ago, the Chippewa Falls Police Department had 27 sworn officers. However, because of tight budgets, the agency had shrunk to 23 officers through attrition, not layoffs. Over recent years, the department has climbed back to 27 sworn officers.

Douglas said additional officers have been on duty this week because of an increased presence at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair.

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