St. Joseph's police officers will each receive a one-time hazard pay bonus for COVID-19. | Canva
St. Joseph's police officers will each receive a one-time hazard pay bonus for COVID-19. | Canva
Police officers in St. Joseph Township received a one-time hazard payment of $1,000 after putting their health at risk to respond to calls during the COVID-19 crisis, The Herald-Palladium reported.
Police Chief Randy Leng requested the payment for officers, as they often have to answer calls that lead them to scenarios where residents are not wearing masks or practicing social distancing. It’s also not known if the citizens officers come in contact with have been infected with COVID-19.
“You guys risk your lives every day, in so many ways,” Trustee Melissa Hahn said, according to The Herald-Palladium.
The total cost of the police officers’ payments was $12,000.
St. Joseph Township has also requested a grant from the Michigan Department of Treasury’s First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program to be funded with the amount needed. But the township trustees said officers will receive the $1,000, even if St. Joseph Township isn’t approved for the grant.
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