Macomb police will use grant funding to encourage officers to remain with the department.
“I certainly poured my heart and soul into it, so I’m thankful we were selected,” Chief Jeff Hamer said about the $207,000 grant awarded by the Illinois Law Enforcement and Standards Board.
Macomb’s current sworn officers at the rank of sergeant and below will receive a bonus if they sign on for two more years with the department.
Hamer said turnover has been a problem since before he took office. It’s been his goal as chief to bring stability, increase training, and get everyone locked into their roles in the department.
“It makes for a happier workplace. It makes for a more rewarding workplace,” he said.
Much of the grant funding -- $152,000 -- will be spent on the retention initiative.
The rest will pay for recruitment and marketing, and for wellness programs.
“When we say ‘Be safe,’ let’s also be mentally safe, economically safe, physically safe, physically healthy,” Hamer said.
The chief said he wants to prevent officers from leaving for greener pastures, while making the Macomb department a greener pasture.
Hamer plans to issue the bonuses in December. In a memo, he told the city council that “this will give them a capital injection in the last quarter of the year, when the funds are most likely to be spent locally.”
The Macomb Police Department currently has 25 sworn officers. Hamer’s goal is a force of 27.
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