Housing support and taking vehicles home are among the incentives being offered to prospective Bloomington police officers.
Mayor John Hamilton unveiled details of a pilot program first announced last fall.
The program include sone-time down payment assistance of $12,000 to purchase a home or a monthly rental or lease payment assistance in the amount of $500 for up to five years.
The city also is launching the Individually Issued Vehicle Program for officers who live in the city. The program allows officers to take their vehicles home in between shifts as a way to promote police presence in the city.
“Supporting and increasing the number of officers who live in the city they serve will help sustain the positive relationships and trust that are the foundations of safe and strong communities,” said Hamilton.
City officials estimate 20 officers currently qualify for the vehicle program and 10 officers for the housing stipend program.
Funds to pay for the program were allotted in the 2021 budget which also included money to hire two new social workers, two new neighborhood resource specialists and a data analyst.
