Gastonia Police Now Offering 15k Bonus Incentive for Lateral Transfers; Highest in North Carolina

new release

 

 

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

 Bill.McGinty@Gastonianc.gov

 

 

 

 


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Gastonia, N.C., just minutes west of Charlotte, is one of the area’s best places to live and work with an ideal combination of location, size and livability. Gastonia is the largest of Gaston County’s 13 municipalities and one of the largest cities in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Selected as an All-America City three times, Gastonia’s desirable quality of life is the result of its beautiful natural surroundings, friendly neighborhoods, responsive government and vibrant business environment.

Contact

✆  704-866-6701

⟟  200 East Long Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28052