Politics & Government
Mayor Ted Wheeler Looks To Hire 300 Officers, Offer Signing Bonus
Mayor Wheeler announced plans to hire hundreds of officers as the city struggles under a wave of gun violence.
PORTLAND, OR — With Portland mired in an ongoing surge of gun violence, Mayor Wheeler announced plans to hire 300 more officers. He added that in some cases recruits will be offered $25,000 signing bonuses.
He made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday. It came as the city has seen record numbers of both homicides and shootings.
Live in Portland? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.
Find out what's happening in Portlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"This is the deadliest era of modern times for the city of Portland," he said. "Many Portlanders no longer feel safe in their city."
There have been 72 homicides and more than 1,000 shootings.
Find out what's happening in Portlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Wheeler said that he wants to offer $25,000 signing bonuses to the first 50 qualified recruits who are brought on. He would also like to see the police bureau improve retention by offering bonuses to people who don't leave.
The City Council will meet on Thursday to discuss police funding among other issues.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.