PRATTVILLE — The Prattville Police Department is looking for qualified officers, and the checkbook is open.
The City Council recently passed a hiring and retention incentives program for the department that says new officers who have received Alabama Peace Officers and Standards Training (APOST) qualifications, and agree to work three years, will get a $7,500 sign on bonus. Half that money will be given at hiring, and the other half comes when the officer completes the PPD's internal training and probationary period.
If the officers don't serve the required three-years, they must repay a prorated portion of the signing bonus.
Current and future officers holding college degrees related to law enforcement will also get pay increases. An associates degree is worth a 2.5% raise, a bachelors degree will get you a 5% bump. A masters degree or higher, or if you are a FBI National Academy graduate, gets a 7.5% increase. Degrees can't be "stacked" for a cumulative pay increase. The raise is based on the highest degree.