Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A billboard along Interstate 55 in Springfield is part of a campaign to recruit police officers to Nashville.

“One of the officers we had that came to our last class said there was a lot of interest from Illinois, back home,” said Capt. Michael Vaughn, who oversees recruiting for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. “With us casting a broad net out there, Illinois is just one of the states we’ve chosen to see what interest is there to come to Nashville to be police officers.”

Vaughn said the current employment environment is one in which recruiting for virtually all fields is difficult. Springfield leaders know that, having recently increased police salaries.

“I snicker just a little bit,” Springfield chief Ken Scarlette said, “because I have been talking with my staff about – I don’t use the word retaliate – but what we may do to advertise in the Nashville area.”

Vaughn said an officer with two years’ experience on another force will make $70,000 in Nashville, plus a three percent bump for an associate’s degree and six percent for a bachelor’s degree.

Scarlette said an SPD officer with three years’ experience elsewhere will make $95,000, plus a $5,000 relocation bonus.

www.joinnmpd.com