Columbia Police Department Announces Job Opportunities and Incentives

COLUMBIA, SC – Chief William “Skip” Holbrook launches a major Recruitment and Retention Initiative today that will allow the Columbia Police Department to hire qualified applicants for 45 (forty-five) vacant law enforcement officer positions.  The Department’s Plan also includes a 7% (seven percent) pay increase and a host of incentives to help recruit and retain law enforcement personnel.

These initiatives are critical to public safety, as the Columbia Police Department works to become fully-staffed and better positioned to compete with neighboring law enforcement agencies, whose salaries and incentives have historically given them a competitive advantage over the CPD–making it more difficult for the Department to recruit and retain good officers.

The Columbia Police Department hopes to change that.  Beginning in 2015, positions that require specialized skills and training will receive additional pay for their expertise.  Officers who live in the City can look forward to a $500 annual Residency Bonus and Educational Pay Incentives will be available to all personnel who earn professional degrees while working with the Columbia Police Department.  Incentives also include signing bonuses for qualified and certified (new) officers, as well as low interest home loan programs.

According to Chief Holbrook, “attracting and retaining law enforcement’s best and brightest will put the Columbia Police Department in a more competitive position and help to ensure our departmental transformation.”

These employment opportunities, as well as the Recruitment and Retention Incentives, will be widely publicized within the industry and are expected to attract candidates from across the Midlands and Southeastern United States.