The Greenwich Police Department is set to launch a major marketing effort to increase its number of recruits, as it is down three officers and more could soon retire.

Within the next year, 40 current police officers will be eligible for retirement. Human resource managers with the town of Greenwich say the number of people applying for police officer positions has decreased within the past five years.

The starting salary for an officer in Greenwich is close to $52,000 year, and some say that's the problem.

?They're choosing other departments because of our location and because of our pay and benefits. So I think they need a richer package for the police officers to entice them to come down here,? says Sgt. James Bonney, of the police union.

Police union officials say they?re talking with the first selectman and the police chief about increasing salaries and benefits in the contract negotiations that will begin in October. The town will start accepting applications online Friday.

Related InformationTown of Greenwich