This week, the Chattanooga City Council voted to accept a $500,000 grant the Police Department recently earned aimed at addressing challenges surrounding the recruitment and retention of qualified sworn officers.
The POST recruitment and retention incentive program, funded through the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee, is designed to provide financial support to police officers who meet specific eligibility requirements. The grant strategically incentivizes longevity, offering periodic payments to officers hired after May 1, 2023, as they reach key milestones in their careers.
“Every police department in America has struggled with recruitment and retention following the COVID pandemic, and we’re working hard to fix this problem in Chattanooga,” said Mayor Tim Kelly.
“This grant, along with the March 4th election ballot initiative to change outdated residency requirements, will help us make sure we have well qualified officers ready to answer the call. We have the best, bravest men and women in America serving in our police department, but even they struggle when they’re understaffed. I am grateful for the state’s partnership in addressing this critical issue.”
Last year, Chattanooga police officers who completed their in-service training in 2023 and remained with the department in 2024 received an $800 retention bonus through a similar initiative. However, the previous program did not include newer officers. This newly announced grant fills that gap by providing targeted incentives for officers who joined the department after May 1, 2023.
|
Payout Schedule (payment upon completion of longevity period)
|
|
|
|
6 Months
|
12 Months
|
24 Months
|
36 Months
|
Total Bonus
|
|
Category 1 Officers - Experienced
|
$1,000
|
$3,000
|
$3,000
|
$3,000
|
$10,000
|
|
Category 2 Officers - No Previous Certified Experience
|
$0
|
$3,000
|
$2,500
|
$2,500
|
$8,000
|
“Ensuring that all of our employees are fairly compensated remains a top priority for me, and I am grateful for the continued support from both the City Council and the Mayor in this effort. Recognizing the potential benefits of this initiative, we applied for the grant and are pleased to announce that our application was successful,” said Chief Chambers.