IMPD heads south to hire more officers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is taking its recruiting efforts outside of Indiana. A group of officers is headed south to Decatur, Georgia, on Monday with high hopes of coming home with a list of potential new hires.

IMPD will attend an event Tuesday aimed solely at boosting recruitment in local law enforcement agencies. The department is presenting a package to potential new hires with first year officer salaries at $53,000. By year two, the new hire will make roughly $62,000 and will jump to $75,000 by their third year.

IMPD is also offering a $5,000 bonus for officers willing to make a lateral transfer from another department.

Officer William Young said that all across the country, fewer people are answering the call to protect and serve. Young said the list of reasons why varies, but he points to two major events in our city that he believes has had an impact.

“Just in 2020 — April of 2020 — unfortunately, we did lose an officer, a female officer, and that took a heavy toll on our agency. Things that happened during the George Floyd protests — that was also an issue,” Young said.

Even so, Young said the goal for more police on Indianapolis streets is a lofty one.

“The number that we’re hoping for is 1,843, to be exact, as far as where we want to be for numbers,” Young said.

IMPD will still continue recruiting efforts locally by visiting colleges and universities and consulting with community organizations to find candidates.

A portion of the American Rescue Plan funds approved in the city’s overall budget last month is being used to help with hiring.

Interested candidates can apply at http://joinimpd.indy.gov. You can also contact a recruiter directly at IMPD_Recruiter@indy.gov.