Raleigh Police Department is set to receive pay increases and bonuses as part of the new state budget. Gov. Josh Stein visited the department to promote the law enforcement pay increases and bonuses, which include a 16.2 percent increase for State Bureau of Investigations and Alcohol Law Enforcement, a 15 percent increase for State Highway Patrol officers, and a $40 million one-time bonus for local law enforcement officers.

Boosting Public Safety

The pay increases come as police departments across the state struggle to fill vacancies. The Raleigh Police Department has 93 open positions, and the staff shortage has led to concerns about public safety. Business owner Dan Lovenheim, who owns bars on Glenwood South, has called for more patrols in the area, citing the need for increased enforcement to handle large crowds.

Stein said the pay increases and bonuses are an innovative and creative way to increase public safety. Raleigh Chief of Police Rico Boyce agreed, stating that the one-time bonuses will help the department hire and retain more officers, increasing the presence of law enforcement in the community.

The Raleigh Police Department has also implemented a lateral training program to bring in already sworn officers from other local jurisdictions or other states. Out-of-state officers are eligible for a $5,000 hiring bonus. Since 2024, Raleigh police officers’ starting salary has increased by 22 percent, from $50,301 to $61,417.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.