The temporary program will allow recently retired certified police officers to return to the force on fixed-term contracts. (Tony Trozzo/Victoria News)

Victoria police are looking to bring back experienced officers to help meet growing demands.

VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson announced that the department is launching a temporary employee program that will allow recently retired certified police officers to return to the force on fixed-term contracts.

"This program will allow VicPD to temporarily employ recently retired certified police officers for fixed terms of up to three years," Wilson said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon. "These officers will be assigned in frontline roles, primarily in patrol where operational demand is highest."

The initiative was created through a letter of understanding with the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board and the Victoria City Police Union.

Under the program, temporary officers can work full-time or part-time depending on operational needs and will serve a six-month probationary period.

Compensation is set at 115 per cent of the first-class constable rate, which Wilson said is currently $67.22 an hour, which sets the temporary positions at roughly $160,000 per year.

They will also recieve a 14.67 per cent pension contribution, 200-hours of annual leave, and benefits.

"This is not a replacement for permanent hiring," Wilson said. "It is a temporary, carefully managed staffing tool designed to help maintain public safety and service levels while our long-term recruitment efforts continue."

She said vacancies can directly affect both response times and the wellness of officers still on shift.

"Every vacancy on the front line not only affects our response times but also the workload and wellness of the officers who remain on shift," Wilson said.

Applications opened Thursday, and Wilson said several people had already reached out after hearing the program was being developed.

"We've actually had people who heard we were in the process of establishing this program reach out to ask when it would open and what the application process would look like."

Wilson said the program is aimed at those who retired within the past three years, which limits retraining needs. She added that depending on how quickly applications move forward, some officers could be back at work "within weeks or months."

While she couldn't say how many positions will be filled, Wilson said those decisions will be made jointly with the police board and union as applications come in.

Wilson said VicPD remains well below its ideal authorized strength - somewhere between 50 and 55 officers short - and that efforts to add permanent members will continue.

They currently have 269 officers on their force.

She pointed to wider recruitment and retention issues across policing.

"Some of the largest challenges are around maintaining very high standards, which we certainly do here at VicPD, but also finding people who are interested in joining the profession of policing," Wilson said.

Wilson said the program will be reviewed annually by the board and the union to ensure it remains effective and transparent.