Minnesota City Using Canoes to Help Recruit New Police Officers

Police departments all across the country are struggling with recruitment, there just isn't enough officers to fill all the open positions, so some have had to get creative to help find new hires.

Many Minnesota towns are having problems finding or retaining officers, Ely Police Chief Chad Houde told KARE 11 that "Officers can go wherever they want, and get a job wherever they want", so he's come up with an incentive for new hires, a new canoe.

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Chief Houde said that he only had one person apply for a full-time position with the department in 2023, the average police officer in Ely makes around $65,000 plus benefits a year, but despite the good pay and benefits, it may be the canoes that help the department stay afloat.

Ely is surrounded with some beautiful lakes and waterways, and most of them require a canoe for access, so Ely Police are offering new hires a brand-new Kevlar Canoe, paddles, and life jackets (a $3800 value) as an incentive to join the team, and by all metrics it's working.

Since launching the program, Chief Houde says that the department has gotten dozens of new applicants and has hired 3 new officers since January. The new officers must stay with the Ely Police for 3 years or have to pay back a portion of the cost of the canoe package.