WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- The Rand Corp. said Friday it had recommended pay boosts for junior police officers in New Orleans.
"Giving junior officers pay raises they already have earned would provide the most immediate boost to the New Orleans Police Department in its effort to slow an exodus of officers that began after Hurricane Katrina hit the city," a new Rand report said. It was organized for the Rand Gulf States Policy Institute by the Rand Center on Quality Policing.
Rand said the New Orleans police had already started to implement many of the proposals in the report.
"New Orleans has many fiscal priorities, but improving the staffing of the city's public safety efforts is one key element needed to support the region's rebuilding," said Bernard Rostker, a RAND senior fellow and the main author of the report. "We found a number of effective steps that are also relatively affordable that the city should consider in order to help stabilize its force and raise morale among officers."
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said: "Combating crime and rebuilding the New Orleans criminal justice system remains a top priority for the city's recovery. The RAND Corporation offers a level of expertise that can assist in developing creative strategies to help our police department protect and serve the citizens of New Orleans."
Rand said the New Orleans police should "provide pay increases to junior officers who already have passed promotional exams. Many junior officers have not received their earned promotions because of the city's financial problems."
"The New Orleans Police Department pays its officers significantly less than comparable cities, and this hurts recruitment and encourages younger officers to transfer to other cities," Rand said.
