Hollywood Park police chief urges pay increases, hiring bonuses to address officer shortages

Police Chief Fred Pritchard told the Hollywood Park City Council on Aug. 25 that the department is short-staffed and that pay increases and targeted hiring incentives are needed to recruit and retain officers. "We are truly struggling," Pritchard said, summarizing the department’s personnel position and regional recruitment trends.

Pritchard said Hollywood Park currently is short three patrol officers and could soon lose a fourth, leaving the department undermanned. He briefed the council on regional comparisons that show Hollywood Park’s starting pay below the median for nearby agencies. "For reference ... our starting pay for a rookie officer with no experience is $55,000 a year," he said, and told the council a target of roughly $60,000 to $61,000 would be competitive in the regional market.

The chief presented a budget request that includes a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all employees plus an additional 6 percent adjustment aimed chiefly at lifting the police starting salary. City Treasurer Fred circulated a salary schedule showing the police salary table and the fiscal impact; Pritchard told the council the combined 3% COLA plus 6% table adjustment would raise the police payline by about $58,900 in ongoing payroll cost. He described other options: narrower pay increases, hiring bonuses in the $5,000–$7,500 range split over the first months of employment, and a retention bonus paid from current-year unused salary dollars if positions remain vacant.

Council members and the chief discussed tradeoffs among across-the-board raises, targeted increases for front-line patrol, and one-time sign-on or retention bonuses. One council member proposed focusing limited funds on immediate hiring incentives and creative retention pay so the department can bring more applicants to the door and choose from higher-quality candidates. The council also reviewed municipal court and traffic-program revenues that offset part of public-safety costs: the council was told municipal-court revenues the city retained were about $1.6 million over five years (roughly $400,000 per year), and that traffic enforcement overtime funded by court receipts has produced meaningful revenue.

The council voiced support for addressing hiring barriers and asked staff and the chief to return with precise options that balance pay increases, bonuses and the city’s overall fiscal constraints. No formal budget vote occurred; the workshop continued with staff-directed follow ups on specific scenarios, including a version of the budget that retains a 3% COLA and evaluates targeted hiring/retention incentives.

Why it matters: Police staffing and pay shape response capacity and resident safety. Council members said they want to be cautious about the city’s limited revenue while also acknowledging the operational risk of further staffing losses.

Ending: Staff will return with refined figures and options narrowing how to fund pay and bonus choices while keeping the broader budget and reserve targets in view.