ELYRIA, Ohio — The Elyria Police Department will open their lateral transfer applications in the new year, seeking eight officers to fully staff their department.
"I think the last time the department was fully staffed was 1998," said Sgt. Mike Mahony, recruiting coordinator for the Elyria Police Department.
The Elyria Police Department is budgeted to have 90 officers in their department. Right now, the department has 79 officers.
In May, Elyria police had 52 applicants for their entry level class, however just three candidates received offers.
"The applicant pool does seem to be shrinking, but the quality is still there," said Sgt. Mahony.
Sergeant Mahony has been with the Elyria Police Department for 12 years, and during his tenure has seen the department rise at times to 86 officers, but not 90.
The lateral transfer program is a method of recruiting used to bring in qualified candidates quickly. Sgt. Mahony hopes to add eight officers in the new year with the program and bring the department to be fully staffed.
"They can go right into our training program and within a matter of 17ish weeks they're on the road filling a spot, answering calls," said Sgt. Mahony.
Lateral transfers who have three years of experience would receive $75,000 per year along with a number of benefits. The benefits include four weeks of vacation after their first year, specialty unit bonuses, voluntary fitness bonuses and take home support cars.
"Everything that we have going right now is trending in a positive direction," said Sgt. Mahony.
The lateral transfers who join the Elyria Police Department do not need to live in Elyria, according to Sgt. Mahony.