TIVERTON — The Tiverton Police Department has launched a recruitment drive to hire an entry level police officer.

But the advantages Tiverton presents as a community in which to serve as a police officer compete, as do other places, with issues of pay and retention say Tiverton's Police Chief Thomas Blakey and Captain Patrick Jones.

"The reason I came here," said Chief Blakey, "is it's so diversified, you have the coastline, you have the farms, you have the north-end three-deckers and the shoreline homes. It has a lot going for it." He said the proximity to Fall River, and the easy access to New Bedfford and Newport, contribute to the policing challenge in Tiverton. "And our equipment is good and our training is good," he said.

Policing may be considered a less desirable profession these days, both officers said.

"It's not limited to the Tiverton Police Department," said Chief Blakey. "Right now the public perception of police is very negative."

"Clearly there's been an impact since Ferguson across the country that puts law enforcement in a different light," Captain Jones said.

Detroit and other cities out west are offering signing bonuses, they said, and are providing other incentives.

"We're trying to recruit, but the other side of the question is, can we keep them. Retention. It's challenging," said Chief Blakey.."

The retention issue

"We're recruiting right now because we're losing good police to towns equivalent to our own in size and activity due to unequal compensation," Captain Jones said.

"We're one of the best farm teams in the area. We train them up and make them first round draft picks in the area. People that leave say they need the money."

Of 12 towns in the county or of comparable size in the state, Tiverton has the highest number of serious crimes, Captain Jones said, citing the Uniform Crime Reports. They include Portsmouth, Barrington, Middletown, Bristol, Jamestown, Burrillville, Charlestown, Foster, Hopkinton, Little Compton, and Warren.

An admittedly rough comparison of police officers who've completed their probationary periods and have served about three years in these towns, Captain Jones said, shows Tiverton's officers earning the least.

"Over the last ten years, we've lost 18 police officers," ten of them to other departments, Captain Jones said.

"One recent employee left Tiverton and walked into Newport with a $10,000 pay raise," he said. "This is an issue many chiefs are facing — losing people to city-based police departments based on pay and activity."

This costs Tiverton — "I'd say tens of thousands of dollars," Captain Jones said — in expenses for training, uniforms, human hours spent evaluating and training, and equipment, even though some of it is recouped in "paybacks" if an officer leaves soon after being hired.

"I have eight people right now, in our 30-man department, who can walk out right now with 20 years of service and retire," Chief Blakey said.

"People who want to come to Tiverton and truly protect and serve, we can offer that," Captain Jones said.

It's easy enough to learn about the minimum qualifications, and the selection process, for a candidate who wishes to apply for the Tiverton position. Recruitment and the application process is all online these days, said Captain Jones. See: www.policeapp.com/Entry-Level-Tiverton

The minimum requirements include two years of college study or two years of active military service, or four years of Reserve or National Guard service, or being a graduate of the Rhode Island Municipal Academy with active law enforcement service within the past three years.

A drivers license, and at least a high school diploma or the equivalent is also required.

The selection process is rigorous, and includes physical and psychological testing, written test, medical exam, oral review board interview, background investigation, interview with the Tiverton Personnel Board, and eventual recommendation by the police chief to the town administrator and Town Council.