- A recently published survey shows that police hiring has increased across the US for the first time in years.
- In 2023, more sworn officers were appointed than in the previous four years, with fewer resignations or retirements reported.
- The shortage of officers forced many departments to reallocate resources, affecting response times.
police departments across United States of america Their ranks are swelling for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd in 2020 led to a historic exodus of officers, a survey shows.
More sworn officers were hired in 2023 than in any of the previous four years, and fewer officers resigned overall, according to 214 law enforcement agencies that responded to a survey by the Police Executive Research Forum, or PERF. Gave or retired.
Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and increased scrutiny of law enforcement.
Small-town police departments are closing across America due to national police shortage
As more and more officers left, many departments had to redeploy expanded resources to handle the increase in crime by shifting officers away from investigative work or quality of life issues such as abandoned vehicles or noise violations and In some cases, the reduction meant slower response times or limiting response to emergencies only, police officials say.
A survey shows that police departments across the US are reporting growth in their ranks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the killing of George Floyd in 2020, which led to a historic exodus of officers. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
“I think the last four years have been particularly challenging for American policing,” said Chuck Wexler, executive director of PERF, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit policing think tank. corner.”
However, different departments are turning that corner at different rates, according to Wexler, who noted that many are still struggling to attract and retain officers.
Overall, the profession “is not dead yet,” he said.
Report of police shortage across the country amid record-low morale and recruitment
The Associated Press left phone and email messages with several unions. Police Department To ask about increased appointments.
The survey shows that while small and medium departments had more sworn officers than in January 2020, larger departments are still down more than 5% from their staffing levels from that time, even through 2022. Even with year-on-year growth through 2023.
The survey also revealed that smaller departments with fewer than 50 officers still grapple with high rates of resignations and retirements.
The survey only asked for numbers, Wexler said, so it’s hard to say whether those officers are moving to larger departments or leaving the profession altogether. He also said that smaller departments, which make up 80% of agencies nationwide, were underrepresented in the responses received to PERF.
While many larger departments have increased officers’ salaries or begun offering incentives such as signing bonuses for experienced officers willing to transfer, some smaller departments cannot really compete. At least a dozen smaller departments have disbanded, leaving the municipalities they once served dependent on state or county help for policing.
But some of the largest departments with the highest salaries are still struggling to find new hires.
Wexler said, “I don’t think it’s all about the money. I think it’s about how people understand their job and feel like they’ll be supported.” “You have West Coast departments that are paying six figures, but are still seeing major challenges in recruiting.”
In addition to salary and bonuses, many agencies are re-examining their application requirements and hiring processes.
Wexler believes some of these changes are worthwhile, including allowing visible tattoos, reevaluating the importance of past financial issues, and processing background checks on applicants faster. But he cautioned that PERF does not advocate lowering standards for training or applicants.
Maria “Maki” Haberfeld, chair of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says departments are focusing too much on the number of officers. He worries that some are lowering education requirements and other standards to increase numbers rather than trying to find the best people to police their communities.
“Policing is a real profession that requires more skill and more education than people realize,” he said. “It’s not about tattoos or running a mile in 15 minutes. It’s really about emotional intelligence, maturity and making decisions in the moment that don’t use lethal force.”
Haberfeld also warned that any employee gains made through the incentive could be easily wiped out, especially when officials, including some in riot gear, break up protests against the Israel-Hamas war at universities across the country. Has been observed.
“In policing, it takes decades to make progress and a moment for public attitudes to deteriorate,” he said.
PERF’s survey found a more than 20% decline in resignations overall, from a high of about 6,500 in 2022 to less than 5,100 in 2023. They are still above early-pandemic levels in 2020, however, when more than 4,000 officers resigned. In all responding departments.
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As recruitment increases, the rate of reduction in retirements depends on the size of the departments. Large departments saw fewer retirements in 2023 compared to 2019, medium departments saw slightly more retirements and small departments saw higher retirements. The survey found steepest declines in resignations at large agencies with 250 or more officers and medium-sized agencies with 50 to 249 officers.
In addition to increases in pay and benefits, improved retention can be partially attributed to some changes in government officer Check out their public safety departments, says Wexler.
“After we had a public discussion a few years ago about defunding the police, we started confronting public officials about the fact that their workforce is leaving,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any question that there has been a major change among political leaders.”
