Police Recruitment
From attracting qualified candidates and telling an authentic agency story to streamlining hiring processes and building long-term career pathways, departments are rethinking how they recruit and retain the next generation of officers. The Police Recruitment topic page explores how agencies are modernizing recruitment, with practical insights for leaders navigating staffing shortages, community expectations and the realities of building a sustainable workforce.
Fixing policing’s future starts with fixing its leaders
More can be done to fill today’s vacancies than just recruitment
Built on pride, purpose and self-leadership, this video is inspiring the next generation to serve
Police Chief David Nisleit said it’s disappointing the city hasn’t refilled many civilian police jobs that were cut in 2008, 2009 and 2010
There were 87 vacant positions in the agency as of January, which means the department is understaffed by 25%
Chief of Training Juanita Holmes said no officer is pursuing a suspect for a mile and a half
Last year, a bill was signed into law to lower the minimum age for detention deputies from 21 to 18
Currently, DACA recipients can become troopers, game wardens, COs and serve in the Wisconsin National Guard
The agency said a pay raise in 2021 and “tireless efforts from the recruitment branch” aided in gathering 103 potential new law enforcement officers in the latest class
The program is designed to help attract and retain first responders and to help them afford homes near their workplaces
Last summer, the police chief and four full-time officers resigned from the Kenly PD, citing a toxic work environment and conflict with the town manager
The bonus includes a one-time relocation allowance and a hiring incentive for honorably discharged military members or active members of the National Guard or Reserves
The city council will use American Rescue Plan Act funds to help first responders live where they serve
Last summer, the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office was short 13 officers. Now, it’s short nearly 30
The 30-second ad was removed due to “negative commentary”
The department noticed they were losing potential recruits to nearby departments with more relaxed tattoo policies
The test, according to chiefs across the state, is making it difficult for departments to hire and retain officers
Departments must be creative, and leaders must be innovative
The plan is aimed at helping law enforcement agencies recruit and retain police amid a shortage of officers
As of last month, Gwinnett County employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939
Michelle Woodfork also laid out what the department is doing to tackle a historic drop in the size of the NOPD’s force
Since the new program went into effect, the city has seen a 51% increase in candidate interest and a 44% jump overall in applications
The revamped patrol schedule provides efficient police staffing while also giving officers more days off to recover from stressful work
High court personnel are showing up on college campuses, military bases and other venues to try to fill some of the force’s many vacancies
NOPD officials blame a lengthy background check process and applicants applying but dropping out or being no-shows for interviews
In 2022, the sheriff’s office was down to around 19 total positions, which promoted the discontinuation of daytime patrols
The agency saw a net loss of 176 officers in 2022, with 279 sworn members leaving the agency and just 103 new hires
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced that the four new deputy chiefs will begin their new roles in February
Portland police hired 80 new officers in the past year, but more than half of them haven’t started due to lack of training academies
The city will now pay most NOPD officers at least the same $50 per hour wage that they had offered to the auxiliary officers
The department needs at least six police officers to staff a midnight patrol, but they currently only have two
The hope is that implementing the Citizen Online Reporting Portal will ease deputies’ heavy workload and save the county money
Known informally as the “bounce program,” it allows the chief of police to bring retired officers back for up to a year
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