The police department in Ely, Minnesota, a remote town in the north woods, is facing the same challenges of recruiting and retaining officers as many other law enforcement agencies across the country. In an effort to attract new recruits and encourage current employees to stay, the department is offering a unique incentive: canoes.

Ely, known as a gateway to the popular Boundary Waters Canoe Area, will provide free Kevlar canoes worth $3,800 to the next officers it hires and to current employees. These lightweight canoes are made from the same strong synthetic fibers as bulletproof vests, making them durable and perfect for exploring the nearby wilderness and its more than 1,000 pristine lakes.

The police department consists of the chief, an assistant chief, and five slots for patrol officers. Currently, there is one opening with another one expected soon. Police Chief Chad Houde has already received two calls expressing interest in the position since announcing the unusual offer. He anticipates several more due to the unique incentive.

Chief Houde explained that many police departments offer hiring bonuses, so he wanted to find a way to stand out. With the suggestion of Assistant Chief Mike Lorenz, they decided to leverage Ely's abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Houde believes that activities like canoeing, hunting, and fishing can help officers decompress after a stressful shift.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide have been struggling to recruit and retain officers in recent years. Many attribute this shortage to the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and the criticism of police that erupted following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. In response, cities like Minneapolis are considering offering substantial hiring bonuses to address their depleted ranks.

Houde has observed a decline in the number of people graduating from Minnesota's college law enforcement programs and getting licensed as peace officers. This trend has resulted in fewer applications for the Ely police department. In fact, there was only one applicant for the department's last opening earlier this year. Currently, about 200 of Minnesota's 400 law enforcement agencies have job openings posted on the state licensing board's job site.

To fund the canoe incentive, the Ely City Council approved Chief Houde's proposal of $30,000. The money will come from Ely's $140,000 share of a $300 million public safety assistance bill approved by the Legislature this year. Local outfitters will supply the canoes, and some have even offered discounts for camping and other equipment rentals for new officers.

The department will provide two paddles and two life jackets along with each canoe. However, there is a catch. Recruits or current employees who opt for the canoes must commit to staying with the department for three years. If they leave early, they will have to pay back a third of the canoe's value for each year they did not fulfill.

While Ely offers competitive salaries starting at around $65,000 compared to neighboring communities, it cannot match the pay scales of larger towns. As a result, officers often move on after a few years. Chief Houde, who moved to Ely from the Minneapolis area 19 years ago and now gets to enjoy the town's outdoor lifestyle, uses his own experience to sell the benefits of working in Ely. He describes it as living at his cabin full-time.

Overall, the Ely Police Department's unique incentive of providing canoes aims to attract and retain officers by leveraging the town's outdoor recreation opportunities. The hope is that this incentive will set Ely apart from other departments and encourage officers to stay for a longer period.