New Britain boosts pay, vacation to draw police

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — New Britain is offering higher pay, more vacation and relaxed residency rules to boost police recruitment.

The New Britain Herald reports that the department has hired three officers since January 2010 and officers have resigned or transferred to take incentives for early retirement.

The department is 37 officers short of its budgeted staff of 165.

The incentives are intended to attract officers who are certified and don't require months-long training.

Certified officers would get two weeks of vacation rather than one week typical for new recruits. In addition, pay for certified officers would start at between $64,000 and $68,000, higher than the $53,469 paid to a newly hired recruit.

Also, officers may live up to 60 minutes away, expanding the number of applicants. Officers previously could pick from a list of towns.

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Information from: New Britain Herald