R2023-158 Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Recruitment and Retention Grant Awarded to the Decatur Police Department by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

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STAFF REPORT To: Lisa Gregory, Mayor Pro Tem City Council Members City Manager Scot Wrighton From: Chief Shane Brandel Subject: Council Resolution—ILETSB Recruiting and Retention Grant Award BRIEFING ITEM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve by resolution the acceptance of the 2023-2024 ILETSB Recruiting and Retention Grant. BACKGROUND: The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board opened a$10,000,000.00 `Officer Recruitment and Retention Grant Program' with the purpose to provide financial assistance to units of local government, public institutions of higher education, and qualified nonprofit entities for the purpose of hiring and retaining law enforcement officers. The Decatur Police Department applied for the grant with a requested budget award of$100,000.00. The department was awarded the full requested budget amount and the current resolution is to accept the grant award. The requested$100,000.00 budget breaks down as follows: $50,000.00—Digital/targeted marketing $10,000.00—billboards/static displays $10.000.00—website development for a new DPD recruitment page $25,000.00—minority recruitment consultant and services $5,000.00—college and career fairs Recruiting of new police officers has been a top priority of the DPD for the last few years. With that,the costs to recruit officers and market the department has drastically increased. In 2021,DPD spent approximately$12,000.00 on recruiting efforts. In 2022,that amount increased to $92,000.00. So far this year,the figure has exceeded$42,000.00. Since January of 2020,the department has hired 61 new officers but experienced a loss of 64 officers due to resignations or retirements. Today the department also operates with 12 vacancies. Recruitment must remain at the forefront of the department's initiatives moving forward. Our hope is to gain full-strength in 2024, and then maintain a staffing level at or just below our authorized strength. However, the department still has many officers eligible for retirement and we anticipate 23 retirements in the next 5 years. That coupled with officers that will resign for other reasons highlights that our department must remain focused and dedicated to recruitment for the next several years. This ILETSB grant runs from 7/1/23 —6/30/24.