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Recruiting Efforts In Law Enforcement

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In numerous cities across the United States, a crisis is brewing in understaffed law enforcement departments, as the administration's battle for the limited few individuals qualified and capable of performing the required duties to fill their ranks. The improving economy, the current attitude in society referencing police officers, a focus on negative media coverage, as well as non-competitive compensation have all been attributed to the diminished interest in careers in law enforcement (Ali, 2017). The city of Houston Texas is just one of the cities scrambling to find officers, with nearly two thousand positions for law enforcement officers available (CNBC, 2018). Additionally, it is reported that in 2016 the state of California had seen over …show more content…

The innovative efforts have driven one agency to get creative with their recruiting efforts, Fort Worth Texas introduced a recruiting video featuring Stormtroopers and Darth Vader in a effort to gain the attention of potential applicants (The Economist, 2017). In an effort to increase the applicant pool some agencies have reduced their education requirements and physical requirements. Additionally, some agencies have offered sign-on bonuses to new officers, in Topeka Kansas a bonus of $5,000 was offered to get a leg up on recruiting new officers (Cobb, 2017). Law enforcement agencies are reaching out to high schools and colleges in an effort to engage students at a young age with the implementation of explorer programs within their departments. The explorer program introduces students to the field of law enforcement as well as the agency in hopes of spiking interest in the profession. The recruiting officers of some agencies are attending job fairs within colleges as well as at military stations in hopes of gaining the interest of capable individuals. A more accommodating schedule can also entice new recruits to join the ranks of a …show more content…

An exact numerical figure is not necessary since you could contact most any agency in the nation and find they are currently seeking applicants to fill vacant positions. The increase in available jobs within the United States has created a wonderful opportunity for many Americans, consequently, this increase has had a negative effect on the field of law enforcement. This is one of the issues the governing officials controlling the budgets of law enforcement agencies need to be aware of. In the interest of public safety it is important to keep experienced, well trained, educated officers on the force. Additionally, the media, as well as some citizens, need to stop falsifying news stories, dramatizing minor issues, moreover, giving law enforcement officers a bad reputation within our country. A recent example of dramatization of a traffic stop was posted on social media alleging racial discrimination and threats were made by an officer to a black female (Burkett, 2018). The female driver made statements on video referencing a traffic stop advising she feared for her safety as an officer who had stopped her made threats to pull her out of her vehicle. In response, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s

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