A safe city depends on a fully staffed and supported police department

John Cerqueria the Executive Director of Citizens for a Safe and Secure Raleigh.

John spoke to City Council on May 12, 2026:

Good evening, I’m John Cerqueira, Executive Director of Citizens for a Safe and Secure Raleigh, a citizens group advocating for public safety.

I’d like to thank Mayor Cowell, Council Members Forte, Melton, Harrison, Silver, and Branch, along with City Manager Marchell Adams-David, for supporting Chief Rico Boyce and the Raleigh Police Department and for improving police compensation in the 2026 budget.

In recent polling 85% of Raleigh citizens across all demographics support increased funding of Raleigh Police. So as we enter the 2027 budget cycle, I’m here to encourage continued investment in public safety. While Raleigh’s crime statistics have improved in some areas, recent high-profile incidents of violent crime remind us that we cannot take our eye off of public safety.

A safe city depends on a fully staffed and supported police department. And RPD still faces significant staffing challenges, with roughly 80 vacancies among its 798 approved officer positions.

Recruitment efforts are making progress. But recruitment alone is not enough if experienced officers continue leaving for surrounding departments at the same pace we add new officers. Without retention, we’re simply trying to fill a leaky bucket. The clearest way to improve retention is to ensure officer pay keeps pace with both the cost of living and the compensation offered by neighboring departments competing for the same talent pool.

Beyond the obvious, I encourage the council to consider additional retention tools, including expanded access to take-home vehicles for officers living outside Raleigh and Wake County.

Of the roughly 70 officer resignations over the past year, nearly half cited take-home vehicles at other departments as a key factor in their decision to leave.

Financially, this deserves consideration. Recruiting, training, and ramping a new officer takes about 2 years costing the city nearly $200,000 when salary, benefits, training, and lost productivity are considered. In comparison, a fleet vehicle that may avoid the need for that expense, costs approximately $60,000. There are operational efficiency benefits as well. Officers with take-home vehicles can often respond more quickly and remain available for service during times otherwise spent commuting to and from a fleet facility.

Beyond RPD, I also encourage the council to consider a contribution to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office, as requested by incoming DA Wiley Nickel, to help fill vacancies in the roles needed to efficiently  prosecute criminals apprehended by RPD strengthening the broader public safety continuum.

I recognize this is a difficult budget environment that requires tough decisions. But even in the midst of those decisions, I urge you to keep public safety resources a priority. Our officers and the citizens of Raleigh deserve it.

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