GRANDVIEW, Mo. (KCTV) - Police departments across the Kansas City metro are competing for officers by offering higher salaries and enhanced benefits as they work to fill vacant positions.

The Grandview Police Department is trying to fill 18 empty positions, that’s about 30% of its force. The department raised salaries to $78,000 for experienced officers willing to join their department.

“It’s a bit of an arms race between departments and I don’t see that changing anytime soon,” said Captain Richard Rodgers of the Grandview Police Department.

Grandview is targeting officers from Kansas City, Missouri and Independence police departments with the higher pay offer, one Rodgers calls competitive.

At KCPD, that salary could be up to $106,000 and in Independence, that could be about $103,000.

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