City Offers $7K To Join Minneapolis Police Dept. In New Contract

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis will offer $7,000 as an incentive to become an officer under a tentative contract agreement between the city and the police union.

New officers of the Minneapolis Police Department would receive $3,500 upon completion of the field training program and an additional $3,500 upon completion of probation.

Current officers would also benefit, receiving a payment of $3500 once the new contract is ratified and another $3,500 if they stay on duty until Dec. 31.

The tentative agreement also includes department-wide raises.

Minneapolis currently has 544 officers on its payroll, which is about 300 fewer police officers since the killing of George Floyd, the Star Tribune reports. Under the city charter, Minneapolis is required to maintain a minimum number of officers in relation to its population.

Last summer, a judge ordered that the city must have at least 730 sworn officers on the payroll by the end of June 2022. The city is struggling to meet that benchmark, but officials hope raises and bonuses can bring in enough recruits.

The Minneapolis City Council needs to approve the contract before it can get into effect.