HGEA and the Honolulu Police Department reached an agreement for new monthly retention bonuses for police communications officers and emergency response operators.
The agreement comes on the heels of the union publicly calling on the city council to expand its inquiry into the HPD vacancy crisis to include dispatchers, not just uniformed officers.
These vital employees answer urgent emergency calls from the public, but for years the union has sounded the alarm about the growing shortage in their ranks and the need for HPD to address recruitment and retainment. The department faces 188 vacancies in civilian positions, according to reports, two-thirds of which are dispatchers. With some 35% of dispatcher positions vacant, this creates the potential for a public safety hazard.
In a statement to Honolulu Civil Beat, HGEA’s Executive Director Randy Perreira said severe staffing shortages have long had an impact on employee morale, retention, and service.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the department to put some extra money in our members’ pockets,” he said. “It will go a long way toward helping to retain the existing workforce and perhaps boost recruitment. We continue to work with the department and the city’s task force for HPD vacancies to arrive at other ways to grow the ranks of these essential employees.”
