Community Corner
Hermosa Police Recruits Graduate Police Academy
They are scheduled to join Training Officers on patrol in the city this weekend.
Press release from the City of Hermosa Beach:
Aug. 18, 2021
Five Hermosa Beach Police Department (HBPD) recruits graduated from the police academy last week and began orientation this week at the HBPD. They are scheduled to join local training officers this weekend in patrolling Hermosa Beach.
The five recruits are Luis Pineda, who graduated from the Golden West Police Academy, and Keaton Dadigan, Stephanie DeAndrade, Kevin Jones and Ryan McBride who graduated from the Rio Hondo Police Academy. When they have completed their HBPD training, they will work as police officers for the City.
“Altogether, we have been able to attract 12 new police recruits since 2020, when the City Council voted to substantially increase police officers’ pay and City Manager Suja Lowenthal established a bonus program to help us with recruitment,” said HBPD Police Chief Paul LeBaron. “As our five newest recruits complete their HBPD training, we look forward to having more officers available to address the challenges in our community.”
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In 2020, the Council approved a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the union representing HBPD’s officers and sergeants, the Hermosa Beach Police Association (HBPOA). The agreement provided a 19% base pay increase over three years, which is the largest pay increase for the union’s members in at least 25 years.
The MOU provided a 7% base pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2019, a 6% base pay increase beginning July 1, 2020, and a 6% base pay increase beginning July 1, 2021. The contract also added officer retention bonuses of up to $7,500, and education incentives to pay for course fees, books and tuition at California State University rates.
The City Manager also created a sign-on bonus program for police recruits that pays up to $30,000 to entry-level and pre-service recruits who join the HBPD and stay. The bonus program also pays up to $40,000 to “laterals,” qualified officers from police or sheriff’s departments who join the HBPD and stay.
This press release was produced by the City of Hermosa Beach. The views expressed here are the author's own.
