By Tao Woolfe
The Boynton Beach Police Department, like other police departments across the nation, is struggling to recruit and retain officers.
Police Chief Joseph DeGiulio received some good news, however, when the City Commission on Jan. 17 approved enough money for the department to hire six more officers.
Though commissioners discussed no specific amount, the starting salary for new officers is $56,825. The department is offering a $5,000 signing bonus for certified police officers — those who have already received police academy training.
“We’re always catching up. As we’re hiring, people are leaving,” said Commissioner Aimee Kelley, who is married to a Boynton Beach police captain. “We’re behind the eight-ball.”
Holly Picciano, the department’s public information officer, said after the meeting that the shortages run deeper than losing people through attrition or recent retirements from the force.
Boynton Beach is growing rapidly and calls for service have increased dramatically, Picciano said.
Further, she said, fewer people are interested in law enforcement careers in the wake of high-profile killings across the country and the resultant protests, calls for budget cuts, and increased scrutiny of police departments.
“Not a lot of people want to do this job anymore,” Picciano said. “We are constantly advertising for officers.”
Last spring the possibility of bringing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in to replace the Boynton Beach Police Department was raised following months of tumult and anger — especially from the Black community — after 13-year-old Stanley Davis III was killed during a Dec. 26, 2021, high-speed police chase. The teen was riding a dirt bike.
Residents had expressed frustration that an internal investigation was taking so long. Nevertheless, Black and white residents had repeatedly said at commission meetings that they did not want PBSO to replace the city’s police.
Instead, residents said, the local force should be winnowed of bad officers and more enlightened policies enacted.
The city opted to follow that advice and shortly after voting to retain and revamp the department, it fired Mark Sohn, the officer involved in the deadly chase. He is fighting for reinstatement.
The City Commission’s recent unanimous vote to provide extra funds for new hires was welcome, and unexpected, Picciano said.
“We are happy to be able to add six positions,” Picciano said. “It will help.”
Even with those six extra positions, however, the department would need to hire another dozen officers to be at full capacity, she said.
The new hires will be placed on road patrol, Picciano said.
The department is recruiting separately to replace three officers and a service aide to restart the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Neighborhood Officer Program. It was halted last year because of staff shortages.
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