Police Staffing Issues In Laguna Beach To Be Addressed By City Tuesday

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — New and current Laguna Beach Police Department officers and employees may see fresh incentives working with the department, if the City Council opts to approve an incentive program to address staffing challenges the department faces.

Laguna Beach City Council members will determine whether or not to move forward with the $100,000 incentive program at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The proposal for the program comes amid a challenging time for the department. According to a city staff report, Laguna Beach is experiencing "multiple headwinds" in attracting and retaining police officers and emergency dispatchers.

"In addition, due to several officers being out with injuries, sufficient patrol staffing has been very challenging during the summer months," Director of Administrative Services Gavin Curran wrote in the city staff report.

The incentive program consists of three parts, including:

• Eligible officers (while on patrol) and dispatchers will earn double time pay in August and September for overtime hours worked.
• New police officer and dispatchers hired between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31 will receive a one-time signing bonus up to $15,000. Employees who are eligible for the signing bonus will receive half of it upon hire and the rest after working 24 months with the city.
• Current Laguna Beach Police Employees Association employees can earn a referral bonus of up to $2,000. Employees will receive $1,000 when the referred employee is hired, and $1,000 when the referred employee completes a year of service with the city.

According to the staff report, the projected $100,000 cost of the program would be covered by the Laguna Beach Police Department overtime budget and General Fund Contingency for Unplanned Events account.

The Laguna Beach City Council will discuss and vote on the proposal at Tuesday's meeting, starting at 5 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Ave.