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Home My WebLink About _ 9.9(b)--Lateral Signing Bonus CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL Recommendation Authorize and approve the following for the City of Redding Police Department (RPD): (1) Extend the lateral signing incentive for an additional 18 months, with a tiered structure based on prior sworn law enforcement experience: officers with 1 to 2 years of experience will receive a $20,000 bonus; those with 2 to 5 years of experience will receive $40,000; and those with more than 5 years of experience will receive $60,000. The incentive will continue to be disbursed in three installments: 25 percent upon hire; 50 percent upon successful completion of RPD’s training program; and the remaining 25 percent upon successful completion of the probationary period. A contract requiring a three -year commitment to RPD will remain in effect, and lateral officers who voluntarily separate before fulfilling the full term will be required to repay the incentive on a prorated basis ; and (2) Authorize the City Manager to cancel the incentive, without City Council approval, due to unforeseen issues, such as budget reductions. Fiscal Impact The cost of the hiring incentive will be paid through the existing Redding Police Department’s (RPD) budget. The cost of the incentive will be funded by existing salary savings from open policer officer positions. Hiring a lateral officer is considerably less than a police recruit (academy) position as the total cost differential is estimated to be approximately $109,100 per officer. Alternative Action The City Council (Council) could choose not to extend the hiring incentive for lateral police officers and provide staff with alternative direction. Not extending the hiring incentives may impact RPD’s ability to recruit qualified applicants to fill vacant police officer positions. MEETING DATE: June 17, 2025 ITEM NO. 9.9(b) FROM: ***APPROVED BY*** bbarner@reddingpolice.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 9.9(b)--Consider extending the Lateral Signing Incentive for the Redding Police Department. Brian Barner, Chief of Police Report to Redding City Council June 11, 2025 Re: 9.9(b)--Lateral Signing Bonus Page 2 Background/Analysis On March 15, 2022, the Council approved increasing the lateral signing bonus from $10,000 to $40,000 for police officer positions to help address staffing shortages within RPD. This provided RPD with a significant recruitment advantage and the ability to attract very well qualified lateral police officers to RPD. On September 5, 2023, recognizing the continued need for experienced officers, the Council extended this incentive for an additional 18 months. This decision came at a time when RPD was experiencing significant staffing challenges due to retirements, resignations, and injuries. Hiring lateral police officers provides a strategic advantage for RPD. These officers bring prior law enforcement experience, require shorter training periods with Field Training Officers (FTOs), and ultimately result in substantial cost savings. In contrast, the estimated cost of hiring and training a police recruit, including academy tuition, salary, benefits, meal and lodging stipend, uniform allowance, and ammunition, totals approximately $81,550. This figure does not include the extended field training time before a recruit is certified as a solo officer. Currently, lateral officers are averaging nine weeks in field training, compared to seventeen to twenty weeks for police recruits. That additional time represents a period during which police recruits need more field training time. This additional field training includes a field training officer being paired with the officer in training, making them unavailable for staffing a patrol beat, thereby reducing patrol coverage and increasing costs. The average price of the FTO’s salary and benefits for just eight additional weeks is $27,550. Therefore, the total cost differential between hiring a lateral officer versus a recruit is estimated to be approximately $109,100 per officer. Since the signing bonus program began in March 2022, RPD has hired 29 lateral officers, with the most recent hire in May 2024. Of those, 21 officers are still employed with RPD, demonstrating a strong retention rate and return on investment. During that same period, RPD hired 17 police recruits, with 14 completing the program. In total, RPD has saved more than $500,000 by hiring lateral officers in lieu of recruits, based solely on training-related costs. These savings have been critical during times of fiscal constraint. A comparative analysis of agency incentives from 2023 to 2025 shows that most law enforcement agencies continue to rely on financial bonuses to attract qualified candidates. The following table displays what agencies bonuses were in 2023 and what they are in 2025. 2023 2025 Notes Chico Police Department $40,000 $50,000 "Seeking City Council approval" Shasta County Sheriff’s Office $15,000 $15,000 Paradise Police Department $40,000 $40,000 Eureka Police Department $20,000 $50,000 From June 2024, "limited time offer" Vacaville Police Department $20,000 $20,000 Palo Alto Police Department $25,000 unavailable San Mateo Police Department $30,000 $30,000 Alameda Police Department $75,000 $75,000 Oakland Police Department $50,000 unavailable Report to Redding City Council June 11, 2025 Re: 9.9(b)--Lateral Signing Bonus Page 3 Scotts Valley Police Department $40,000 $40,000 Yuba City Police Department $45,000 $45,000 Maintaining a competitive incentive allows the City of Redding (City) to remain viable in a highly competitive hiring environment. As RPD anticipates further vacancies due to retirements and injuries, continuing the signing bonus program will ensure the department remains staffed with experienced, fully trained officers while simultaneously reducing onboarding costs. Currently, four positions remain vacant, and RPD remains vulnerable to additional losses from anticipated retirements. When lateral officers are hired with the signing bonus, the lateral is required to sign a contract agreeing to a three-year commitment to RPD. Officers who voluntarily separate before completing the full term must repay a prorated portion of the incentive, further protecting the City’s investment. Extending the lateral signing bonus is not only a fiscally responsible decision but a strategic necessity for sustaining public safety in the City. This investment continues to yield high - performing, experienced officers while significantly reducing costs and mitigating the risks associated with long training timelines and uncertain recruit success rates. Environmental Review This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act, therefore, no further action is required at this time. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Public Safety – “Work to improve all aspects of public safety to help people feel secure and safe where they live, work, and play in the City of Redding.” Redding Police Department Lateral Signing Incentive Modification & Extension Overview •Reinstatement of Lateral Officer Hiring Incentive •Restructuring of Program into 3 Tiers Based on Experience: -1–2 years: $20,000 -2–5 years: $40,000 -5+ years: $60,000 -Paid in 3 installments: -25% upon hire -50% completion of training -25% completion of probation Program History & Council Actions •March 15, 2022 •City Council adopted an increase from $10,000 to $40,000 •-Addressed severe staffing shortages •September 5, 2023 •-Council extended program for 18 months •-Continued need due to retirements and injuries Program Results to Date Since March 2022 •Hired 29 lateral officers with 21 still employed •Hired 17 recruits with 14 still employed Cost Savings Breakdown Cost Category Recruit Lateral Academy + onboarding $81,550 $0 Extended FTO time (8 wks.)$27,550 $0 Total Per Hire $109,100 $0 •Recruits Require 17–20 weeks of FTO •Laterals average only 9 weeks Fiscal Impact Summary •Funded from RPD’s existing budget •No impact to the General Fund •Saves average $69,000 per lateral hire Strategic Operational Advantage •Laterals are POST-certified and experienced •Faster deployment = better coverage •Reduces FTO time and strain on patrol staffing •Improves use of department resources Competitive Recruitment 2023 2025 Notes Chico Police Department $40,000 $50,000 "Seeking City Council approval" Shasta County Sheriff’s Office $15,000 $15,000 Paradise Police Department $40,000 $40,000 Eureka Police Department $20,000 $50,000 From June 2024, "limited time offer" Vacaville Police Department $20,000 $20,000 Palo Alto Police Department $25,000 unavailable San Mateo Police Department $30,000 $30,000 Alameda Police Department $75,000 $75,000 Oakland Police Department $50,000 unavailable Scotts Valley Police Department $40,000 $40,000 Yuba City Police Department $45,000 $45,000 Retention & Risk Mitigation •3-year service contract required •Prorated repayment if officer leaves early •Protects City’s investment •Encourages long-term commitment Oversight & Flexibility •City Manager authorized to cancel if needed •Responsive to unforeseen budget or staffing issues •Maintains fiscal responsibility and adaptability Conclusion & Recommendation •Proven, cost-effective recruitment strategy •Affords ability to hire well experienced qualified officers •Reduces training costs and staffing gaps •Save d the City an estimated $500,000 in Training Costs alone •Recommend approval to extend and modify incentive. 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