Bloomington Police Department offers new hiring and retention incentives
The City of Bloomington is now offering several new incentives within the Bloomington Police Department (BPD). Additionally, significant salary increases were agreed upon through the collective bargaining process and are reflected in the recently approved contract between the City of Bloomington and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The City offers the following incentives:
- $5,000 signing bonus for applicants that are already a certified police officer
- $3,000 signing bonus for non-certified applicants
- $1,000 quarterly retention bonus in 2022
- $750 monthly rent assistance, beginning at the start of employment, for officers that rent a residence within the City
- $18,000 one-time down payment assistance for officers that purchase a residence within the City (after a probationary year)
- Take-home patrol vehicle for officers that live within the City
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) increases the salary of an Officer First Class by 13.2% in 2023. This means that the salary for officers that have completed their probationary year, as well as the starting salary of those hired that are already certified officers, will be $66,327 in 2023. Further, the total percentage of increase in the Officer First Class salary over the four years of the CBA totals 21.9%. A police officer salary increase for the purposes of stability and continuity was the first recommendation in the April 2022 inaugural report from the community-member-led Future of Policing Task Force.
In addition to the above incentives, the Bloomington Police Department also offers unlimited free access to a workout facility and to a Tactical Athletic Trainer for both on and off-duty injuries as well as injury prevention. Further, police social workers and a peer support group are available to provide unlimited free confidential mental health, counseling, and wellness assistance to employees.
Updates on Bloomington Pools, Parks, & Properties
Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool
Both pools are filled with water and are expected to open to the public for the 2022 swimming season on Saturday, May 28 at 11 a.m. Prior to opening, Parks and Recreation staff is testing the chemical and mechanical systems, as well as the heaters. Both pools will be open daily from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. from May 28 through July 31, when Mills Pool closes for the season; Bryan Park Pool hours shift to back-to-school hours (weekends only) beginning August 2nd. For more City pool information visit bloomington.in.gov/parks/pools.
Griffy Lake Accessible Fishing Pier and Loop Trail
Public Works is finishing guardrail work on the eastside of Headley Road, scheduled for May 19, and following installation, the road will reopen to two-way traffic. The west guardrail installation is already complete. These safety upgrades are part of the Griffy Lake Loop Trail & Accessible Fishing Pier project and will create a quarter-mile multiuse path on the westside of Headley Road to connect the northern and southern trails around Griffy Lake. It will create an accessible fishing pier directly west of the existing Griffy Lake Nature Preserve parking lot. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/node/3512.
Lower Cascades
Bloomington’s first public park, dedicated in 1924 and upgraded by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, has been undergoing a significant streambank erosion project and trail and boardwalk construction. The new accessible boardwalk to the waterfall opened for public use on May 11th and this week contractors are installing sod in the inset parts of the limestone creek wall.
RCA Community Park
The playground at RCA Community Park will be closed on May 31-June 2 while Parks and Recreation staff remove the old playground surfacing, and install new engineered wood fiber surfacing. RCA’s athletic fields and courts, trails, and shelters will be open during playground resurfacing work.
Rose Hill Cemetery
Contractors are working at Rose Hill this week to remove asphalt in the area identified for the planned scatter garden (designated place for scattering the ashes of those who have been cremated). Paving of Rose Hill’s interior roads will begin on May 31 and work will continue through June. The cemetery’s internal roads will be closed during this time. Once resurfacing begins, the cemetery and Third Street pedestrian entrance will be closed to all foot and vehicle traffic.
Women in Leadership conference hosted by Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
Join Bloomington Women in Leadership on Tuesday, June 14th from 11:30am-1:00pm at Henke Hall for a luncheon and presentation from IU’s 19th President, Pamela Whitten. With her presentation, Inspiring Future Leaders, President Whitten will discuss her rise to her current influential position in higher education. Lunch is provided by IU Catering. Registration is $25 for Chamber and community members. This Bloomington Women in Leadership event with President Whitten is open to the public. Register here
Bloomington Women in Leadership (BWIL) is a professional women’s group that empowers, inspires, and engages through mentorships, professional development, and community. In addition to hearing from President Whitten, BWIL has also invited participants from Girls, Inc. to join in the day’s activities. Girls, Inc. is excited to attend and learn from our BWIL members and have their participants observe women from all across our community in various roles of leadership. In support of IU and Girls, Inc., the Chamber and BWIL encourage you to wear your favorite Cream & Crimson attire!
Click here to submit questions for President Whiten ahead of time
This Week in Hoosier History
1964 – Over 50,000 people attended a three-day auction held at the former home of millionaire Skiles Test on the northeast side of Indianapolis. A famous icon of local teen culture in the 1950s, the home was known as the “House of Blue Lights.” In its prime, the estate included its own power generating station, a complete sawmill, and a 100,000-gallon spring-fed swimming pool. The auction included a Chickering baby grand player piano, oriental rugs, diamond rings, oil paintings, and antique furniture.
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