Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – The City of Jonesboro is moving forward with new financial incentives to bolster the ranks of the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD) amid ongoing regional law enforcement staffing challenges.

KAIT reported the city is implementing a $12,000 hiring and retention bonus specifically targeted at recruiting experienced, lateral law enforcement officers.

At Tuesday evening’s city council meeting, Mayor Harold Copenhaver referenced the bonus. He said, “We are currently finalizing details on notable hiring and recruiting financial incentives, with police departments facing challenges for recruitment nationwide. We are modernizing our hiring process, including incentives, to ensure the department feels supported, and our community remains safe.”

During KAIT’s broadcast, Mayor Copenhaver and JPD Police Chief Rick Elliott noted the department is currently facing a shortage of roughly 25 officers. The financial incentive is intended to attract certified officers to Jonesboro and rapidly close that operational gap.

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The targeted recruitment structure marks an effort by city leadership to remain competitive in regional public safety hiring. This development follows other recent public safety investments, including federal grant funding the city secured earlier this week to outfit JPD tactical units with advanced Armor Express protective carrier systems.

Jonesboro Right Now reached out to the mayor’s administration late Wednesday evening to confirm the official start date for the application bonus pool, how the incentive funds will be structured, and whether the funding draws from existing city budget allocations or external public safety funds.

Update Thursday, June 4: JRN sat down with Copenhaver and Elliott to learn more about the recruitment incentive. Read the full story here.

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