Raleigh, N.C. — Chief Harry Dolan said Tuesday he believes a turnover problem within Raleigh's police department is largely related to pay and benefits.
"We have high turnover, and it's very difficult to retain police officers today," Dolan said, speaking before the City Council's Budget and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday.
Out of the 79 officers who left the force last year, Dolan said, 59 resigned – 17 during training, 13 to go to other law enforcement agencies and 29 for unspecified reasons.
Based on his initial assessment of the numbers, Dolan said his experience leads him to believe pay and benefits were a factor. He said it is indicative of a "crisis" law enforcement agencies across the country are facing.
The Raleigh Police Protective Association, a group that looks out for the interests of more than 400 officers, is pitching immediate educational incentives and fitness incentives for officers to deal with the issue.
It wants $1,500 per officer per year for a bachelor's degree and $750 for an associate's degree. (Currently, officers get $700 for a bachelor's degree and $350 for an associate's degree.) Officers who pass a physical fitness test would get an additional $1,000 a year. The increased benefits would cost an estimated $750,000, the RPPA said.
Dolan said he didn't think the RPPA's proposal would solve the problem.
The police department currently has more than 700 officers on a pay scale ranging from $32,000 to $62,000 for a non-ranking officer. It has 58 officer vacancies, he said.
"We have to look at a pay scale that is very competitive for this region of the country," Dolan said. "We're a growing department, and we need to fill these vacancies."
Dolan proposes comparing the pay scale to raise salaries at the lower end so that officers will be more likely to stay.
"My professional opinion is that we should compress the pay scale to make it much more attractive to officers – that they know at Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 – up to say, Year 9 – 'This is where my salary is going to be,'" he said.
Dolan also wants what he calls "lateral entry" for experienced officers moving from one law enforcement agency to the Raleigh Police Department. Although they would be new employees, the newcomers would be paid based on their years of service as officers rather than how long they have worked for Raleigh.
Dolan is expected to give the committee more detailed numbers about the issue next month.
Pay Linked to High Police Turnover, Raleigh Chief Says
- Reporter: Amanda Lamb
- Web Editor: Kelly Gardner
RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh
Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
127 Comments
| MOST | Viewed | E-mailed | Discussed | ||
Most Viewed Stories
Most Viewed Videos
Most Viewed Slideshows
| |||||
| MOST | Viewed | E-mailed | Discussed |
Most E-mailed Stories
Most E-mailed Videos | |||
Multimedia
Key dates in the investigation of Lance Armstrong on charges he used performance-enhancing drugs.
Key events in Iran's relations with the West.
An interactive look at the controversial decision and reversal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop funding breast exams at Planned Parenthood.
Special savings on contacts at Eye Care Associates
Save Money On Your Energy Bill - togetherwesave.com



![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717011/10717011-1328936455-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717059/10717059-1328939591-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717043/10717043-1328939633-100x75.jpg)






WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
January 16, 2008 6:13 p.m.
I totally agree with mom2two, her post says it all.
January 16, 2008 5:40 p.m.
This arguement boils down to this- Some posters on these stories about cops insist (as they should) that LEO's be of the highest quality, yet they don't believe they should be paid a salary that goes along with the education, experience and quality (perfection, they want) of work that they demand. You can't have it both ways. If you want the highest quality (which you say we don't have, at these salaries), you need to be prepared to pay for it!!
January 16, 2008 5:07 p.m.
Like I said, poor financial choices and/or the inability to say no to material goods you want but don't need and/or "wanting more" is what leads people to the decision to have both spouses work. Most wives spend just as much money on childcare and work related expenses as their salary!!
Once other professions need to wear a bullet proof vest and carry a gun to work, I'll "complain" that they need a raise too.
January 16, 2008 5:04 p.m.
January 16, 2008 4:26 p.m.