WARREN — Warren City Council voted Wednesday to establish a police cadet hiring program aimed at addressing the city’s ongoing struggle to recruit qualified police officers, a challenge departments nationwide face.

The ordinance, passed as an emergency measure, authorizes the city to pay wages and benefits for candidates attending an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in exchange for a commitment to serve as sworn officers with the Warren Police Department.

The program, introduced by Councilman Michael O’Brien, D-at Large, seeks to attract a broader and diverse pool of applicants by removing financial barriers to academy training.

Candidates will earn $18 per hour in 2025 while attending the 23-week academy, with the city covering wages and benefits under a policies and procedures contract. Upon certification, cadets must serve a minimum of five years as full-time officers, including a one-year probationary period.

Councilman Todd Johnson, I-1st Ward, a former nine-year member of the Civil Service Commission, talked from his experience of how the program could reverse declining applicant numbers.

“I’ve watched our testing numbers steadily decrease and very little diversity in our applicants,” Johnson said during the council’s caucus meeting. He noted that previous incentives, such as a $10,000 sign-on bonus and training academy reimbursement, have already increased diversity in gender and race among candidates.

“This is going to do even more,” he said, while assuring the public that hiring standards, including polygraphs, psychological exams and background checks, remain unchanged.

Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel attended the meeting and highlighted the severity of the recruitment crisis, recalling that when he took the police entrance exam in 1994, nearly 400 candidates applied. In contrast, only three took the most recent test.

“This gets rid of the requirement for prior academy certification and opens it to anybody,” Merkel said, explaining that the program allows the city to hire from a broader civil service list after candidates pass initial exams and interviews.

Mayor Doug Franklin praised the legislation as a proactive step to compete with other communities facing similar challenges.

“Every mayor’s hand goes up when recruitment and retention comes up at conferences,” Franklin said, citing discussions with leaders from 600 to 700 communities nationwide.

He credited Councilmen O’Brien, Johnson, the human resources department and the police department for their collaborative efforts.

Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, expressed support but sought clarification on safeguards. She noted a previous program where candidates repaid training costs if hired, asking if similar protections exist.

Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert confirmed a clawback provision requires cadets who fail to complete the program or leave early to repay training costs, with a prorated amount agreed upon by the police union.

Conditions of the ordinance include that: cadets must adhere to academy and city policies, with violations potentially leading to immediate termination from the program. Cadets will not perform sworn officer duties during training, though they may participate in supplemental activities like firearms or driver training when approved. A severability clause ensures the program’s core remains intact if any provision is deemed invalid by a court.

“This is a great tool,” Franklin said, expressing hope that cadets would stay for a lengthy duration of time.