CLE want to provide retention bonuses to police officers who stay through 2024

and news here at 5 30 Cleveland takes action to stop the hemorrhaging of

police

officers

from its force. The city's Public Safety Committee just approved an emergency ordinance to offer

retention

bonuses

to

officers

. Now this comes after five investigators revealed that 30 percent of Cleveland's

police

force has since left. the pandemic began News 5 investigator Sarah Butterson is in the newsroom with details on Sarah. I heard those officers are offered three thousand dollars, that's right Courtney, the committee approved a proposal to give officers who agree to

stay

for two years a three thousand dollar bonus. I have told you how murders go unsolved pessimistic person I would say she says do you really care how thousands of omissions are not investigated at all?

I was honestly baffled and how millions are spent on overtime for officers. I wish I had a lot of OT, where I work, all because the Cleveland police are dangerously understaffed, one of the most important things that is for me and my family is to be safe and I don't feel safe in my city, so today Ward One Councilman Joe Jones and the rest of the city's Public Safety Committee took steps to stop the sound hemorrhaging with a $4.2 million grant

provide

d by the American Rescue Plan law that will

provide

officers who agree to

stay

through December 1,

2024

, a $1,500

retention

bonus.

If they stay after that date, the same officers will receive another fifteen hundred dollars. Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensic said the city needs to do even more. I think we really need to start thinking outside the box anywhere, especially for EMS, and wherever we are. can um and um because we have a lot on our plate the administration says they applied for another federal grant to provide hiring

bonuses

to police firefighters and paramedics earlier this year. Cleveland police increased officer pay by 11 over three years in looser rules. and baseball caps, a movement that District 5 Councilman Richard Starr supported, that's exactly what we need, those are the things we need to highlight as advertisements, things that separate us to make someone

want

to understand why they

want

to join to this Police Department, after all, Cleveland.

There are still 331 officers missing and more than 400 will be eligible to retire next year. The full Council and mayor have yet to approve the emergency ordinance, which they are expected to do. Officers who agree to stay should receive their bonus checks early next year. What long-term solutions is Cleveland looking for to recruit and retain police officers? Good question. No plan has been presented to council and no one in Administration has been available for an interview with us on The Newsroom. I'm News 5 investigator Sarah. Patterson