The Boise Police Department is looking to hire as many as 30 new officers by the beginning of next year. And in hopes of attracting experienced and qualified officers, they are bumping up pay.

The department has been given more than $175,000 from the City's Strategic Planning Contingency Fund, or "rainy day" savings fund, to begin the Lateral Entry Program.

The program will allow experienced officers to join BPD at a salary level based on their relevant law enforcement experience.

"The benefits for us are that it brings people with skill sets immediately to the police department. We provide them with a short, advanced academy, familiarizing them with the investigative expectations with the Boise police department, our mission, our values, our culture. After another short field training officer program, it has them out on the street in a very brief time," said Boise Police Chief Michael Masterson.

The pay incentives will be a permanent addition to the department's hiring program.

Officers with patrol experience from state, county or city law enforcement agencies are eligible for lateral entry hiring.

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