Rockford Police officers could earn $700 bonuses to curb summer sick leave usage

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The City of Rockford is considering offering a financial incentive to keep police officers from calling in sick during the summer months, due to staffing shortages.

According to a memo sent by Rockford Police Department Deputy Chief Robert Reffett to members of the Finance and Personnel Committee, the department is requesting to offer “No Sick Time Bonuses” in the amount of $700 a month per officer, over June, July, and August.

The department said that in summer 2024, officers used a total of 2,823 hours of sick time.

“In an effort to reduce that number for 2025, the Police Department would like to offer a financial bonus to any officer of the department who does not utilize Sick Time or Sick Not Covered during the time period,” the memo said.

For each month an officer does not use sick time, they would earn a $700 bonus, with a total bonus of $2,100 possible over the course of 3 months.

The bonuses would be paid out in September. Officers hired after June 1st would not be eligible.

“When we hire new officers, it takes about a year to get them trained and on the street by themselves,” Chief Carla Redd explained at Monday night’s committee meeting. “So right now, usable bodies, we’re sitting at about 242, as we have several groups that are in training right now, [including] the academy. So, essentially, we’re trying to reduce the sick time usage during the summer months, where we will have officers already taking off for vacation.”

According to city records, the Rockford Police force is authorized to have 302 officers.

“Typically, we would look for the officers to be able to put in for a day off and receive that day off. But, it’s a little bit more difficult with the staffing numbers being what they are,” Redd continued. “Where they would be able to get standalone time, but are not able to get that approved, we recognize that some are calling in sick when they’re not necessarily sick.”

Funding for the bonuses would cost an estimated $535,500 and come from the Police Department’s operating budget.

Redd also noted that the incentive would reduce the department’s overtime costs.

The finance committee recommended approval of the request, which will be sent to the full City Council for a vote.