KAILUA-KONA Think you have what it takes to wear the badge and blue?
KAILUA-KONA — Think you have what it takes to wear the badge and blue?
With 49 police officer vacancies as of Tuesday and several more anticipated in the coming months as veteran officers retire, the Hawaii Police Department is actively recruiting new officers to serve in all Big Island communities.
The effort to secure 47 new entry-level officers to join the department commences at midnight Sunday. The department currently has 434 sworn positions serving the island 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Starting pay for a Hawaii County police officer I is $5,364 per month, or $64,368 annually. That’s higher than the island’s median household income of $56,395, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
That salary is bolstered by a healthy benefits package that includes holiday pay; vacation pay; leave for illness, military, funeral or accidental injury; health and life insurance; and retirement.
