Councilman Polensek Calls on Mayor to Offer Bonuses to Recruit Police Officers

Jun 07, 2023

Cleveland (June 7, 2023) – Councilman Mike Polensek, describing the level of violence in the city as unprecedented, is calling on Mayor Justin Bibb to offer $10,000 signing bonuses for individuals who complete the Cleveland Police Academy.

Councilman Polensek, chair of Council’s Safety Committee, sent a letter to the Mayor today reiterating what he told him in early May: that the number of police cadets in the last two classes 13 and 9 respectively is “pitiful” and that Cleveland now stands with the same number of police officers as 1923.

“Crime is spiking across the entire city and we see more and more gun-related violence involving younger and younger individuals,” Councilman Polensek wrote. Councilman Polensek said with so few police patrolling the streets, their lack of presence isn’t a deterrent to criminals.

The bonuses to attract candidates to the police force would require those who receive them to stay on for five years or repay the city based on the length of service.

“If we were to hire … the 180 cadets that Council approved in the budget, that cost would be an additional $1.8 million,” Polensek noted in the letter. Given that the city has possibly 35 potential cadets for the next class, the additional $1.8 million would not impact the funding council has approved for police.

“The issue is not money, it’s recruitment,” Councilman Polensek added. “Some suburbs are offering even larger bonuses.

“I am here to assist you to move any needed legislation … to accomplish this action,” Councilman Polensek wrote.

Besides contacting the Mayor, Councilman Polensek shared the letter with all of Council, as well as the Director of Public Safety, the Chief of Police and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff.