MLPD offers bonuses to incoming officers

The Moses Lake Police Department will offer new officers up to $5,000 as a signing bonus after a unanimous Moses Lake City Council vote formally approved the program Tuesday evening.

“We got the signing bonus approved back in 2017, back when we were kind of hemorrhaging a little bit. We had a lot of officers that left in 2016 and 2017,” MLPD Chief Kevin Fuhr said.

Fuhr said the department was informed after an audit the manner of approval for the signing bonus program wasn’t handled properly from a procedural perspective under the previous MLPD administration. To ensure the program was properly approved and administered, Fuhr, who began as chief in 2016, requested approval from council members. He added the bonus is only one aspect of recruiting and MLPD doesn’t have a problem with recruiting and retaining officers at this time.

“Since 2017, we haven’t had a problem recruiting. As a matter of fact, we haven’t really needed to recruit that much because people don’t leave,” Fuhr said.

With a staff of 44, only one or two officers have left each year since the bonus was implemented shortly after Fuhr took the helm at the department. The department currently has a shortlist of qualified candidates who are interested in working with the department. Over the last four years, Fuhr said the majority of new officers have been Moses Lake natives.

MLPD also offers a competitive wage. According to Salary.com, MLPD offers a median income of about $59,000 to patrol officers. That figure sets the agency higher than the Spokane Police Department, with a median salary of just under $58,000 annually, though the Seattle Police Department offers a roughly $65,000 median income for officers.

Fuhr said MLPD has received approval to hire two new officers in 2022. One of those officers has already been selected and a second is close to finishing the screening process before hiring. Fuhr said he expects to have the second position finalized by February 2022.

Fuhr said the department is very particular when screening candidates. Local candidates are generally preferred, but rookie officers also have to go through a strict screening process. They first must pass physical agility and written tests. Once that is completed, the candidate goes before a board of officers who conduct an oral screening. Afterward, the applicants are ranked on a list and Fuhr interviews them personally. At that point, he determines which officer candidates will be selected for a background check to ensure the department hires officers with integrity. The hopeful officers then go on multiple ride-alongs with current officers who report to Fuhr how the candidate handled his or herself during the ride-along.

“I get feedback from my officers on how (the candidates) interacted with conversations they had,” Fuhr said. “How they presented themselves to try to make sure that we get the right fit.”

Once hired, the city pays for rookies to attend a five-month police academy, Fuhr said. Afterward, the new officers train with the department for two weeks, then move on to 16 weeks of riding with another officer to learn the ins and outs of policing in Moses Lake.

Fuhr said recruiting is also aided by the department’s reputation and community outreach, which has helped the department create a good relationship with Moses Lake residents. Support from the Moses Lake community, even when controversial police incidents hit the national news, is invaluable to the recruiting process, he said.

“We have a great reputation in the community and our community, they just love the police,” Fuhr said. “What happens nationally is not happening in Moses Lake and I would even go further to say that when something bad happens nationally, the support for us grows even more. You will see people stopping by with food and thank you cards and all that stuff, just showing how they appreciate us.”