BY TOMER RONEN
What else?
Looking ahead
only training, professional development and promotions as additional opportunities. He said department officials would like to see added benefits including tuition reimbursement, shift and weekend differential, language pay, training officer pay, uniform allowance and special assignment pay. The sheriff’s office is also set to open its regional training complex in the spring, Fagan said. The complex aims to bring specialized training and professional development courses, which officials hope will attract more recruits.
Beyond salaries, Fulshear’s police depart- ment offers officers every other Friday, Satur- day and Sunday off, Seymour said. As city employees, Fulshear officers also get other benefits including health insurance, paid time off, six weeks of paid leave upon the birth of a child and tuition assistance. Additionally, officers receive fitness days for exceeding the minimum state requirements. Meanwhile, Katy’s police department is looking at 10 hour shifts to allow officers more time off, Chief of Police Bryon Woytek said in an email. However, Fagan said Fort Bend County’s benefits are “significantly lacking,” citing
Upon the Oct. 7 creation of Fulshear’s police review committee, City Manager Zach Goodlander set a goal to present a report to council in January, with a February or March budget kick-off workshop. Since June, Seymour said the city has already lost three employees to other departments, which he attributes to pay. Meanwhile, Fort Bend County formed its committee Oct. 9 following concerns from Fagan. However, Woytek said he isn’t concerned officers will leave, nor does he believe pay is the problem. “Agencies keep throwing money at salaries, and it will not fix the problem,” Woytek said in an email. “Even with higher pay, the vacancies will still exist until young people decide this is a professional career again.” Pay review committee members The committees will review department salaries in comparison to other area departments and will consist of members from several departments, including:
Why it matters
Fort Bend County • Human resources, chair • Sheriff’s office • Budget and finance • Auditor’s office • Risk management • Commissioners Court • Board of judges
Fulshear • City manager • Chief of Police • Three council members • Economic development corporation
By the numbers
For residents, public safety consistently ranks among their top priorities, along with mobility and other city services, especially for Fulshear, which is ranked one of the safest cities in the state, officials said. “Representing the title of one of the ‘Safest Cities’ in Texas is not an easy task—this has become our culture and what has come to be expected,” Seymour said. Both Katy and Fulshear officials said they have continued to add officers to keep up with population growth. Fulshear and Fort Bend County officials said they hope the pay committees will help to recruit and retain qualified officers.
City of Katy Two current vacancies Expected to be fully staffed by start of 2026
City of Fulshear Nine vacancies at start of fiscal year 2024-25 Seven positions added in 2023
• Volunteer resident • Finance department • HR department • Commissioners Court • Board of judges
Fort Bend County 50 current vacancies 150+ vacancies at its height
SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY & FULSHEAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: KATY, FULSHEAR, FORT BEND COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION
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