HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — Hopewell city council has voted to increase the starting salaries of police officer from 38,600 to 41,000 per year.
Earlier this month 8News reported the concerns Hopewell residents and Police Chief John Keohane had regarding an officer shortage.
Hopewell is one of the lowest paid in the region and that impacted their efforts to recruit officers.
As a result, the department is short staffed, causing a public safety concern among some.
This new starting salary scale begins January 1. Existing officers will also get a scaled raise that will vary based on tenure.
