Salary raise for Franklin police officers puts agency among highest paying in region

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Franklin Police Department is now among the highest paying agencies in the region, following suit with a few other law enforcement agencies that are raising wages in hopes of attracting more recruits.

During Tuesday’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) meeting, city leaders unanimously approved adjusting the paygrades for both new and existing officers. The starting salary for new officers with no prior experience is now $60,000 — a $10,000 increase.

Those who are already certified will make at least $65,000 per year when they are hired by the police department and all current sworn officers will be seeing a 3% boost in their annual pay.

According to Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey, this new pay adjustment puts the police department in the 90th percentile or better for pay in Middle Tennessee.

“The City of Franklin is one of the best places to work and live in the state and country,” Stuckey said. “This pay adjustment shows our men and women in blue how much our leadership values their service and creates an advantage for our department to hire and retain the best and brightest.”

Just last year, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced that it was raising its starting salary for both new cadets and lateral transfers from $46,000 and $48,000 per year respectively, to $65,000 per year.

Next to the THP and Franklin Police Department, entry-level recruits in Bowling Green, Kentucky are making one of the highest starting salaries at $60,000 per year.

After raising its starting salary, the THP received a record 1,026 applications for its cadet class. In a time when hiring police officers is extremely difficult, the Franklin Police Department also hopes its new pay raise will lead to many additional applicants.

“The City of Franklin is a great place to work as a law enforcement professional,” said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. “I encourage anyone who wants a rewarding career, in a city that values and supports its police officers, to apply.”

Comparatively, starting salaries for officers in many neighboring cities are still nearly 20% to 25% lower than those being offered in Franklin, by the THP and across the border in Kentucky.

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In Clarksville, the city’s website shows officers are paid $46,097 after graduating from the police academy. New Mt. Juliet police trainees are paid $49,686, according to the department’s website . After six months, their base salary increases to $50,909.

Meanwhile, the Metro Nashville Police Department’s website says a police officer trainee starts at $54,900 a year, with a raise to $60,501 after six months with a field officer.

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