Gastonia Police Offers $15,000; Highest Financial Incentive in North Carolina to Attract Qualified Police Officers
For Immediate Release – April 3, 2024
Gastonia, NC. – The Gastonia City Council has authorized the Police Department to institute a new, larger, bonus structure aimed at recruiting and retaining police officers.
The Gastonia Police Department is currently down thirty police officers across its four shifts. To fill the gaps and attract new and qualified talent, the following bonus structure has been approved.
- Sign-on bonus for NC Certified Lateral Transfer $15,000. $7,500 will be paid upon hire
and the remaining $7,500 will be paid upon the completion of the 1-year probation period. This is the highest amount currently offered in the state of North Carolina.
“We can’t do it alone; we need the whole department’s help. We want Officers and other department personnel to have skin in the game and be compensated for bringing qualified new people into the department,” said Gastonia Police Chief Trent Conard.
To better incentivize those helping with referrals, the following bonuses for sworn Police Department employees have been proposed:
- Any recruit needing Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) $1,000
- NC Certified Officer with 1-2 years of experience $3,000
- NC Certified Officer with 2 + years of experience $6,000
The referral bonus will be paid upon the candidate’s Police Training Officer (PTO) completion. There is no limit on referrals for Gastonia Police Department eligible sworn police personnel.
Starting Salaries for Police Officers:
|
Education |
Job Title |
Minimum Range |
Maximum Range |
|
High School Grad; No Experience/needs BLET |
Cadet |
$49,771 |
$67,820 |
|
High School |
Police Officer I |
$52,260 |
$71,211 |
|
2 yr Associate Degree |
Police Officer II |
$54,873 |
$74,772 |
|
4 yr Bachelor's Degree |
Police Officer III |
$59,052 |
$82,161 |
- Officer pay can vary based on experience.
- Yearly salary based on 2080 hours of work
Gastonia Police additional incentives:
- 5% incentive pay for bilingual (all languages)
- 5 % incentive pay for shift differential (night shift)
- 5% incentive for pay NC Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate
- 5% incentive pay for NC Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate
- 5% incentive pay for becoming a Police Training Officer
- 5% incentive pay for Corporal salary
- $1,500 incentive one-time bonus to move into the city limits
Media Contact:
Bill McGinty
Public Information/Media Relations
Gastonia Police Department
Cell: 704-419-0266
