Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Clovis city commission on Thursday more than doubled the sign-on stipend for hiring new police officers.
On Clovis Police Chief Roy Rice’ recommendation the commission raised the sign-on stipend from $2,000 to $5,000, effective immediately.
Rice said the higher stipend would help the Clovis Police Department stay competitive with other police departments in the area.
“The staff has worked really hard and I like to think our team has proven themselves on this by the different programs we’ve brought to you (the commission),” Rice said.
Rice said the $2,000 stipend set last year had only brought in two new officers to the police force. He said by increasing the amount it could encourage individuals to look at the city’s police department rather than seeking employment from other locations.
He also requested that the commission apply the $5,000 stipend to his latest hired officers as well.
“We have six people right now fixing to start in-house training and although these people are signed up and joined us before we came here tonight I would like this (the decision) to go back and affect them as well,” Rice said.
Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt said in the meeting the city had received its second allotment from the state for law enforcement recruitment and retention, which came to a total of $412,500.
Answering a question from Commissioner Juan Garza, Rice said that money had to be spent by the end of June 2024, and that, he said, was another reason for the request to raise the stipend.
Howalt said the $412,500 will not only cover the $5,000 stipend for newly hired officers but will also help fund the officers’ salaries through this fiscal year. He added the officers who receive the stipend will have to sign a contract which requires the individual to serve a year within the police department.
The commission unanimously agreed to the police department’s request.
In other matters the commission dealt with on Thursday:
• Mayor Morris proclaimed Thursday as “Kyan Wilhite Day” and Saturday as “Water Carnival Day,” in the City of Clovis. Kyan Wilhite, 17, of Clovis earned the world championship title in tie-down roping at the National High School Finals Rodeo on July 22.
• The Commission privately voted via paper ballot to appoint former Curry County Commissioner Tom Martin to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
• The commission unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding between the city and Nurstead Consulting Services for a mobile crisis response team. Clovis Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said the agreement would allow emergency services responders to “contact Nurstead when addressing a member of the public with a behavioral health concern to obtain assistance.”
• Commissioner Megan Palla presented awards to the 2023 Yard of the Summer winners at Thursday’s meeting. Winners received a gift bag and a certificate.
