City Council takes additional actions to fill police department vacancies

The Mill Creek City Council has approved new initiatives to fill vacancies in the police department, focusing on hiring experienced officers. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established, which includes hiring bonuses of up to $20,000 to incentivize recruitment. This decision follows recent discussions and a previous proposal that offered lower bonuses, highlighting the urgency of addressing the nationwide shortage of qualified officers. Mayor Brian Holtzclaw emphasized that public safety is the Council's highest priority, prompting the need for more aggressive recruiting efforts. Currently, the department has three vacancies amidst a total of twenty-three officers.

The Council has actively engaged city staff to develop additional recruitment strategies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to staffing. Furthermore, the City is committed to supporting its existing officers during this transitional phase. The collaboration with the Mill Creek Police Officers’ Guild is expected to bring forth effective solutions to meet recruitment goals.