LADY LAKE, FL (352today.com) – Men and women in blue in Lady Lake will soon be seeing more green in their paychecks.
On Wednesday, the Lady Lake Town Commission announced it had unanimously approved a new contract with the police union that gives the police department a 30% pay increase for all sworn law enforcement including the police chief. The pay increases go into effect November 20.
Justification for the Increase
Commissioners also approved a new starting salary of $62,000 for officers with a range that tops out at nearly $93,000 according to the position posting online. Previously, starting pay for Lady Lake police officers was $47,698.56 annually.
Police recruiting and retention has been a challenge for many communities across the country. Lady Lake is no exception. It says it’s been operating with just 22 of its budgeted 30 officers. The town says its goal is to get to full staff.
In its news release, Lady Lake pointed to the FBI’s 2019 Uniform Crime Report to provide perspective, stating the nationwide rate of sworn officers is 2.4 per 1,000 inhabitants.
“With Lady Lake’s population of 16,179, the Town’s recommended staffing is 39 officers,” the release stated. “Due to recent staffing shortages, hundreds of thousands of dollars from the department’s personnel budget was going unspent and being returned to the general fund annually. This money will now instead be used to boost salaries, allowing the department to become competitive and grow with the Town’s population.”
The commission also pointed to the town’s growth over the last few years as justification for the increase.
Lady Lake says more than 300 new businesses have opened since 2018 and nearly 4,000 new residents are expected to move to the area over the next three years.
“We are grateful to the Town Commission for their unwavering support of the Lady Lake Police Department and for a community that wholeheartedly backs the blue,” said Police Chief Steve Hunt.
Recruiting Efforts
Lady Lake has also developed a plan to recruit officers to fill the vacancies on its force.
The initiative includes:
- a professional police recruitment video highlighting the department
- a new website launching in early 2024
- implementation of the PoliceApp
The town says the PoliceApp is an online application and recruitment system that simplifies the application process. Anyone interested in applying can view the job posting and apply here.
“Responsible future planning demanded swift and bold measures to draw in qualified police candidates,” said Town Manager Bill Lawrence. “As a result, we are committed to a multi-pronged approach to attract top talent from a nationwide pool. Our residents deserve the best.”