Cleveland Police Receive Pay Increase and Bonuses in Effort to Boost Recruitment and Retention

Cleveland city leaders have announced plans to increase pay and offer sign-on bonuses in an effort to attract more police recruits. The salary for cadets will be raised from $16 to $24 per hour, and a sign-on bonus of up to $5,000 will be provided. Additionally, officers with a Bachelor's degree and 180 days of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces will be sworn in at an elevated rank, resulting in a $3,700 pay increase in their first year. The move comes after nearly one-third of a small class of police recruits recently quit, leaving the city with fewer than 20 new recruits in training.