Chattanooga, Tenn. (January 17, 2025) - This week, the Chattanooga City
Council voted to accept a $500,000 grant the Police Department recently
earned aimed at addressing challenges surrounding the recruitment and
retention of qualified sworn officers.
The POST recruitment and retention incentive program, funded through the
Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee, is designed to provide
financial support to police officers who meet specific eligibility
requirements. The grant strategically incentivizes longevity, offering
periodic payments to officers hired after May 1, 2023, as they reach key
milestones in their careers.
“Every police department in America has struggled with recruitment and
retention following the COVID pandemic, and we’re working hard to fix this
problem in Chattanooga,” said Mayor Kelly. “This grant, along with the
March 4th election ballot initiative to change outdated residency
requirements, will help us make sure we have well qualified officers ready
to answer the call. We have the best, bravest men and women in America
serving in our police department, but even they struggle when they’re
understaffed. I am grateful for the state’s partnership in addressing this
critical issue.”
Last year, Chattanooga police officers who completed their in-service
training in 2023 and remained with the department in 2024 received an $800
retention bonus through a similar initiative. However, the previous program
did not include newer officers. This newly announced grant fills that gap
by providing targeted incentives for officers who joined the department
after May 1, 2023.
6 Months | 12 Months | 24 Months | 36 Months | Total Bonus | |
Category 1 Officers - Experienced | $1,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $10,000 |
Category 2 Officers - No Previous Certified Experience $ | $0 | $3,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $8,000 |
“Ensuring that all of our employees are fairly compensated remains a top
priority for me, and I am grateful for the continued support from both the
City Council and the Mayor in this effort. Recognizing the potential
benefits of this initiative, we applied for the grant and are pleased to
announce that our application was successful,” said Chief Chambers.
For more information about the grant and eligibility requirements, please
contact Sergeant Victor Miller at the Chattanooga Police Department.