East Grand Forks' City Career Advantage

East Grand Forks’ Police Hiring and Retention Incentives

David Murphy is aware of the toll life as a police officer can take.

“It’s not an easy job,” said Murphy, East Grand Forks’ city administrator.

That’s why, like many cities around the state, East Grand Forks has enacted a new initiative to draw worthy candidates to its police department.

In October, the East Grand Forks City Council voted unanimously to approve hiring and retention incentives for qualified officers. New hires who pass a background check and start the department’s field training and evaluation program will receive a $2,500 hiring incentive. Those who successfully complete the field training and evaluation program will receive an additional $2,500.

Candidates who are moving from more than 50 miles away from East Grand Forks will also receive $2,500 toward relocation expenses.

The retention incentives, which will begin in 2023, will provide a $3,000 incentive to officers who’ve stayed with the department for 2-4 years, $4,000 to officers who’ve reached 5-9 years of service, and $5,000 for officers with 10 or more years in the department.

As of now, the hiring incentives are set to end Dec. 31, 2023, but if the department continues to face staffing shortages in 2023, the council can vote to extend the incentives’ termination date.

Murphy noted that the police union is also on board with the hiring and retention incentives.

When it comes to recruitment, East Grand Forks is often at a disadvantage being more than 300 miles away from the attractions the Twin Cities have to offer. However, in addition to the incentives, Murphy believes candidates will view East Grand Forks as a “police friendly” community.