NATCHITOCHES, La. — Natchitoches police officers are getting a pay increase after a recent vote by the City Council.
The council approved a new starting pay rate of $18 an hour, up from $16 an hour. City officials said the salary hike is necessary to help recruit and retain qualified officers.
Officials emphasized the rigorous standards required of law enforcement when advocating for the raise.
The rate increase follows an earlier salary adjustment that raised starting pay from $13 an hour.
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. said funding for the pay raise comes from a sales tax originally passed in 1995.
Pay raises for existing officers will be staggered upward according to civil service guidelines. The higher wage rate is expected to take effect promptly.