Dayton OKs police retention incentive program

by Alicia Miller

APG of East Central Minnesota/Crow River News

The Dayton City Council has approved a police department employee retention incentive program.

Police Chief Paul Enga approached the council at the June 11 meeting with a plan to help retain police officers with the incentive program. Currently, the police department employs 12 sworn officers, one community service officer and two civilian employees.

“In recent histories, probably since 2020, we’ve noticed mass exit of law enforcement personnel throughout Minnesota and throughout the nation,” he said. He added this has forced many cities to look into retention programs.

Enga proposed using $77,500 as a one-time retention incentive that would be distributed to all department employees. Those officers with under 10 years of service with Dayton Police would receive a $5,000 incentive (10 employees) and those with over 20 years of service would receive $10,000 (two employees).

The sole police administrative staff with under 10 years of service to the department would receive $2,500, while the administrative staff member with over 20 years would receive $5,000.

Enga said the money would come from the city’s Public Safety Fund.

Department staff would be required to stay a minimum of two years with Dayton Police after receiving the bonus. If an employee chose to leave before the two years, they would be required to pay back a prorated portion of the incentive.

“I appreciate the benefit of retaining good employees,” Council Member Matt Trost said.

He asked what other city police departments have similar retention incentives. Enga said Osseo, Corcoran and Brooklyn Park have programs.