By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a proposal to increase officer referral bonuses for recruiting lateral police candidates from other departments.
- Officers would receive $1,000 for referring one officer, an additional $1,500 for a second referral, and $2,000 for a third, an increase from the previous $500 per-referral rate.
- The initiative targets already-licensed officers who can begin employment within weeks rather than months required for academy recruits, addressing the department’s critical staffing crisis.
- The department has declined from 1,262 sworn officers in 2020 to 843 in 2025, with only 29 referral bonuses paid between 2023 and 2025 despite the incentive program’s existence.
- Officers can earn up to $10,500 annually in recruitment bonuses; the department will allocate $30,000 for the program in its first year.
ST. LOUIS, MO. — The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners will consider a proposal Wednesday to increase officer referral bonuses as part of ongoing efforts to address staffing shortages that have depleted departmental ranks by nearly one-third since 2020.
The tiered bonus structure would compensate officers for successfully recruiting already-certified police officers from other agencies. Under the proposal, officers receive $1,000 for each of the first lateral referral, $1,500 for a second referral, and $2,000 for a third, representing a significant increase from the previous $500-per-referral incentive.
Police spokesman Mitch McCoy characterized officers as effective recruiters capable of identifying candidates who align with departmental values and professional standards. McCoy stated that officers with firsthand experience in the profession are positioned to recognize both capability and cultural fit in prospective candidates.
“We know that some of our best recruiters exist within our organization,” McCoy stated. “They already know how the job is done. They know the professionalism, the values of service that we expect of people, and they know who will fit and who may not be the best fit.”
The referral bonus proposal supplements multiple recruitment and retention initiatives the board has implemented since assuming state-appointed control last year. Additional measures include salary increases, officer hiring blitzes, and enhanced recruitment advertising campaigns.
The department has experienced substantial staffing decline since 2020. Federal Bureau of Investigation data documents that St. Louis Police Department personnel decreased from 1,262 sworn officers in 2020 to 843 officers in 2025. The decline occurred during a period marked by national pandemic-related homicide increases and widespread law enforcement recruitment challenges following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
McCoy stated that recruiting already-certified officers provides operational advantage over traditional academy recruitment because lateral candidates can begin employment within weeks rather than the months required for basic recruit training completion.
“This will be one additional incentive,” McCoy said, characterizing the referral bonus increase as part of a comprehensive recruitment strategy.
Despite the existing $500-per-referral program, departmental records indicate minimal program utilization. Between 2023 and 2025, the department paid referral bonuses for only 29 recruits, suggesting low officer participation in the existing incentive structure.
The new tiered structure permits officers to earn substantial annual bonuses. Officers can receive up to $10,500 annually if all three referral bonuses are awarded. The department has allocated $30,000 for program funding in its first fiscal year.
Program eligibility requirements specify that officers cannot earn bonuses for recruiting previously employed personnel seeking to return to the department. Additionally, referred officers must remain employed with the department for at least six months for the recruiting officer to receive the bonus payment.
Board members scheduled a vote on the proposal for 9 a.m. Wednesday. The measure was presented amid continued departmental efforts to rebuild the force and address community safety concerns related to staffing limitations.