APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton Police are implementing a new recruitment team and strategy to attract applicants to their department.
Hiring and recruiting officers is only getting more competitive. That’s why Lieutenant Meghan Cash says Appleton Police are getting creative.
“It is a fantastic way for us to be able to not only be engaged with our community, but also with what our officers and non-sworn staff thoughts are on what we want to have in the strongest candidate coming into our building,” Cash told WTAQ News. “The ability to have a team comprised of sworn and non-sworn members involved in the hiring process to help shepherd candidates through that hiring process, it gives them a better understanding of maybe what our community is like and how our department functions…It really gives us that opportunity that, if there’s a candidate that’s out of state for instance, for this lateral process – or if someone just isn’t familiar with our area, that we can help them and guide them through that process.”
The Appleton Police Department has open positions, and is even offering a $5,000 bonus for qualified candidates applying for a lateral position. Those applying for a lateral move to Appleton will also see the process expedited.
“There are costs involved with moving to an area. There are costs involved for just being able to come for that hiring process,” Cash said. “Where we historically have seen somebody have to come multiple times to Appleton for the hiring process, we’re condensing a lot of those processes into maybe one day where they can come and do multiple steps.”
The openings at the department also come with an assortment of benefits and different opportunities.
“Potentially up to five weeks of vacation and PTO pay. We have an in-house range and gym, take-home squad cars. We have a great facility and a great working relationship with our community…There’s bonus pay available to officers when they maintain their fitness. There are a lot of non-seniority based, specialized positions that we have at our department,” Cash said. “Here at Appleton [Police], we look at things a little bit different. That ability for people to have the opportunity to do a lot of different things within the course of their career is really important to us, and allows us to have more well-rounded officers.”
Due to events unfolding over the past few years, even people who have been interested in joining law enforcement have seemed a bit cautious. But Cash encourages people to give the Appleton Police Department a closer look.
“We’re a department that is always looking for a unique way to be able to police our community. We’re always open to new ideas and really look at what the next ten years is going to look like for law enforcement. Being a new officer, you will have the ability to have a voice in what that’s going to look like,” Cash said. “From somebody who has been been for over ten years, and I came from out of state, that ability to really shape what you being a police officer means to your community and means to you as a person [is important].”
You can learn more about the jobs and apply right here.
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