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. Police Recruitment Week explores how agencies are modernizing recruitment, with practical insights for leaders navigating staffing shortages, community expectations and the realities of building a sustainable workforce.
What the data and the field reveal about where agencies lose candidates and how to keep them
FEATURED CONTENT
A practical, agency-wide framework that turns every sworn and civilian employee into an active recruiting force
Agencies relying on bonuses and short-term tactics may see temporary gains but lasting staffing stability comes from strategies that improve retention, reputation and community trust
A customized childcare model built for law enforcement families aims to improve retention, boost morale and deliver measurable return on investment
Integrating civilians, structured internet sleuth programs, artificial intelligence and regional partnerships may be the key to sustaining clearance rates in the 21st century
Facing staffing shortages and rising complexity, departments like Atlanta are expanding civilian leadership and professional staff roles to stabilize operations, modernize capabilities and relieve pressure on sworn officers
From paperwork to people skills, seasoned cops offer hard-earned advice for the next generation
If you’re losing applicants, stretching hiring timelines or watching academy classes shrink, this guide outlines what agencies are doing to rebuild their staffing pipeline
COMPLETE COVERAGE
DOJ grant funds S.D. agency’s summer internship program to spark interest in law enforcement careers
“The real intent of this is to get kids ages 18 to 21 interested in law enforcement and keep them in that career.”
“I cannot faithfully support my officers and provide you, the citizens of Marble Hill, with law enforcement services you all deserve...” Chief Kristin Nenninger stated
Since the deployment of the new recruiting website, Portland PD leaders say they’re noticing more buzz and an uptick in email inquiries about the 30 open positions
Portland PD used $350K from the DOJ’s asset forfeiture program to create the videos, and department leaders have seen an increase in inquiries about openings
The Lafayette city council member’s proposal would increase PD chief pay from $135,880 to a range of $150,000 to $170,000; the measure will be put to a vote on Sept. 12
The resignations are reportedly due to tensions between the Surfside Beach City Council and the police department; officers cited harassment directed at the former police chief
County officials said the small borough of Woodlynne will now be policed by the Camden County Police Department
Houston mayor seeks exception to legal carrying age to recruit officer candidates out of high school
A Texas law that forbids carrying a gun below the age of 21 inhibits the Houston Police Department from recruiting younger officers and filling ranks, Mayor John Whitmire says
According to a letter sent by the union president, member officers have raised concerns that new recruitment efforts will inadvertently endanger other officers
After extensive deliberation and strategic planning, the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police (DACP) announced a collaborative partnership with All-Star Talent and Guardian Alliance Technologies
ABOUT THE SPONSOR: eSOPH by Miller Mendel
With a primary focus of turning past practices used by city, county, state and federal government agencies into modern, efficient, and cost-effective digital solutions, Miller Mendel (MMI) has been creating category-leading systems since 2011.
eSOPH by Miller Mendel is a secure, cloud-based, pre-employment background investigation software system designed specifically for public safety agencies. Used by hundreds of agencies nationwide, eSOPH has been credited with cutting the time it takes to process a pre-employment background investigation by up to 50%, saving agencies significant time, money, and resources without sacrificing investigation quality.
eSOPH by Miller Mendel is a secure, cloud-based, pre-employment background investigation software system designed specifically for public safety agencies. Used by hundreds of agencies nationwide, eSOPH has been credited with cutting the time it takes to process a pre-employment background investigation by up to 50%, saving agencies significant time, money, and resources without sacrificing investigation quality.
How to use recruitment messaging and leverage new technology to attract, hire, onboard and retain top talent