The Tacoma City Council voted on Tuesday to approve a Lateral Incentive Program for the Tacoma Police Department (TPD). Like departments across the nation, TPD has struggled to maintain staffing levels and fill all budgeted positions. The program seeks to address these staffing shortages, while also reducing the reliance on overtime hours and increasing levels of service through the targeted hire of officers already located within the region for faster, more efficient deployment.
Leaders across the City are hopeful the program will attract the highest-quality candidates ready to serve Tacoma. “While we face tough budget choices, public safety must remain our top priority,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “The Lateral Incentive Program will help to quickly strengthen our police department’s capacity while growing strategically to continue to protect the community’s trust.”
Lateral officers hired through the program will receive a $50,000 hiring bonus distributed over two years, as well as additional leave benefits, though they must still complete TPD’s rigorous recruitment process and meet the department’s high hiring standards. TPD maintains accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), which only two percent of agencies nationwide hold. The Lateral Incentive Program is available for law enforcement officers currently employed in Washington state and commissioned by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC).
“City Council’s support of the Lateral Incentive Program makes long-term staffing stability at Tacoma Police possible,” said Interim Police Chief Patti Jackson. “This program allows us to recruit experienced officers from across the state more efficiently, reduce overtime demands, and provide our officers and their families with greater balance and wellbeing. Most importantly, it ensures we can consistently deliver the level of service our community both expects and deserves.”
Prospective applicants seeking more information about the Lateral Incentive Program or Tacoma Police Department recruitment can visit tacoma.gov/police or contact Officer Taylor Reeves at treeves@tacoma.gov or (253) 881-8861.