During a recent government meeting, officials addressed the pressing issue of officer retention and recruitment within the Paris Police Department. The department is facing significant challenges as officers are increasingly drawn to neighboring agencies, particularly the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, where they can earn up to $30,000 more annually.

The discussion highlighted that while recruitment remains stable, with local citizens filling the ranks, retention is a critical concern. Officers with one to five years of experience are leaving for better pay and benefits, particularly since Lamar County has recently increased its compensation packages, including take-home vehicles. This shift has created a competitive environment that threatens the stability of the Paris Police Department, which invests heavily in training its officers—approximately $20,000 to $25,000 per officer before they complete their field training.

Officials noted that the department is not only competing with the sheriff's office but also with local Independent School Districts (ISDs) that are actively recruiting from their ranks. The current pay structure has led to a situation where officers are leaving for positions that require less work and have lighter call loads, further exacerbating the retention issue.

To address these challenges, officials proposed establishing a sustainable pay gap between the Paris Police Department and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. They emphasized the need for a long-term strategy to maintain this gap, rather than the current \"leapfrog\" approach where each agency raises salaries in response to the other. By creating a stable pay structure, the department hopes to reduce the incentive for officers to leave and ensure that they can retain the talent they have invested in training.

The meeting underscored the importance of not only filling positions but ensuring that officers are fully prepared and capable of serving the community, thereby mitigating potential liabilities. As the department navigates these challenges, the focus remains on creating a supportive environment that values and retains its officers.