The Associated Press
MESA, Ariz. (AP) - Phoenix-area law enforcement agencies are scrambling to fill roughly 600 open positions, leading to tough competition between the agencies.
Some are offering higher salaries, signing bonuses and better benefits.
“I haven’t been in this particular job very long, but the people who have said they have never seen such a tough market. We are all competing for the same applicants,” said police Sgt. Jon King, Tempe’s recruitment officer.
Chandler Detective Brian Reed, whose job includes doing background research on applicants, said the current job market for officers is an unusual one.
“Normally, it’s been two positions and 500 applicants. Now it’s 500 positions and two applicants,” he said.
After several years of tight budgets, police departments now have the means to add positions and to fill those left open by attrition.
Phoenix is advertising for 300 new officers.
But finding qualified enough qualified applicants can be difficult. Even if they meet the state’s stringent prerequisites, they have to undergo a series of tests and background checks that take three to four months before they enter the police academy and field training.
Most will fail the financial background check, the physical requirements, or one of the other tests, recruiters say.
The goal is to bring in as many applicants as possible, because only a fraction will end up in uniform.
Competition has gotten so stiff that Gilbert has begun offering bonuses to some applicants and to city employees who make referrals. Mesa has reinstated cut benefits, and Scottsdale has hiked its starting salary.
“We work very, very hard to get the best quality people because the public puts so much trust in their police officers,” said Cindy Sawyers, personnel unit supervisor for the Scottsdale Police Department.