Louisville Metro Police launches aggressive recruitment drive on various platforms

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is seeking to add dozens of new officers as part of an aggressive recruitment drive.

The department is utilizing various platforms, including social media, billboards, and commercials, in an effort to attract new recruits, along with offering higher pay and improved benefits.

Sgt. Michael Jackson, with the LMPD recruitment and selection unit, said the department is focusing on compensation to draw in new recruits.

“Money does talk, along with other benefits,” Jackson said.

He explained that officers can expect a starting salary that bumps up to nearly $80,000 in the first few years after graduating from the police academy, with pay rising to $87,000 after two years.

The increased pay is not only drawing in new recruits but is also attracting experienced officers back into the department. Jackson said that LMPD has seen a return of seasoned officers who are rejoining the force.

For Rebecca Grignon-Reker, whose husband, Officer Peter Grignon, was killed in the line of duty in 2005, the sacrifice of police officers is personal.

“No police officer does this for the money,” she said. “But it’s exciting to see that they’re getting a little bit more for what they contribute to our city.”

While the pay increase is a step in the right direction, Grignon-Reker noted that no amount of money could truly compensate for the dangers officers face.

“If somebody walked up to you and said, ‘Here’s a blank check for your life,’ what would you write in the memo?” she asked.

Currently, LMPD is looking to hire up to 300 officers to fill vacancies across the department.

With the department's recruitment efforts in full swing, LMPD hopes the improved compensation and benefits package will help address staffing shortages and ensure the safety of the community.