Last month, the Lexington County Council approved a program I immediately started to help the Sheriff’s Department recruit and retain employees.
This initiative is the first phase of a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan we submitted in the requested budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Filling positions has been a challenge for the agency for quite some time. This new program will financially reward employees who make a commitment to stay with us. We also want to provide an incentive for current employees to help attract top talent that will make us a stronger agency.
Under the first phase, a new employee will receive a $500 sign-on bonus. After two years of service, the employee will be paid a $1,500 bonus. Current employees will be eligible for a $500 bonus if they recruit someone who successfully completes all required training.
Law enforcement agencies across the state and around the country are experiencing serious recruitment and retention challenges. This approach will help us attract and hire qualified, diverse and skilled people who want to serve our community. It’s an effective way to fill our positions and stabilize our workforce.
The Sheriff’s Department hired 78 employees last year. We currently have more than 30 unfilled positions. Click here to see our current openings.