Foley, Ala. – (OBA) –  Many Foley police are getting better pay and opportunities in an effort to recruit and retain officers to meet the demands of the growing city.

A new pay plan approved by the Foley City Council increases the starting pay level for non-certified and certified officers while providing more opportunities for growth and development within the agency. Officers will see an expansion of specialty opportunities which will be used to suppress crime and foster strong relationships with the community.

“This is the type of program that we want to do to make sure that we have the very best and are able to maintain the accomplishments and advances we've done over the past 20 years in our department. That's why we brought this program forward,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said.

Under the new plan, entry-level non-certified officers have a starting salary of $55,206.

After three years, Foley officers would receive a promotion to police officer II, designated PO-II. The top salary for that position is $97,384. For certified officers seeking employment with the agency, they would immediately be promoted to PO-II starting level pay of $60,865 with a potential one time sign-on bonus of up to $5,000.

Foley is also expanding the number of corporal positions from six to 10. The maximum pay for a corporal is $102,253 under the Foley pay plan.

The plan also allows the police chief to award bonuses to officers with specialized skills. The skills could include speaking another language or being certified in areas such as polygraph operations.

Officers with a rank of corporal or higher can also receive a longevity bonus of $5,000 after 10 years of service to Foley and additional bonuses for every additional five years of city service up to 30 years.

The new incentives are in addition to the benefits that police and all Foley employees receive, such as annual merit raises, cost of living adjustments, insurance and retirement programs.

Police Chief Thurston Bullock said the plan will be a benefit for current Foley officers as well as new recruits. He said officers have been working to meet increased demands for services as the city grows.

“I also want to thank our men and women of the Police Department because they've been holding a thin line,” Bullock said. “This is not just about recruiting. It's as much about retention because we need to help them on that front line.”

Hellmich said recruiting and retaining police officers is a challenge. Foley is one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama and the need for police protection is increasing.

“We have been able to hire a few, but we have not filled all those positions,” Hellmich said. “It's just challenging in this day and time. We want to retain what we have. We want to make sure that they are in it for the long haul. It's a competitive market out here in our county."

Councilman Richard Dayton said hiring and keeping good officers has become a challenge across Alabama.

“It's not a small-town thing. It's a big town thing. It's an every town thing,” Dayton said, “Keeping and hiring the best people has to be paramount as we look to the future as we grow our business which is our city.”

Incoming officers will have to meet the physical requirements and other standards set by the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, known as APOST, before being hired by the city.

More information on the plan and police opportunities is available at: https://cityoffoley.org/police-department/