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Vacancies
By estimation, more than 80 percent of the nation's 17,000 law enforcement agencies, large and small, have police officer positions that they cannot fill. Jim Hyde, police chief in Davis, California, reports approximately 9,000 police officer vacancies in California as of June 2006.1 However, only 2,500 officers graduated from California police academies in 2005. Nationwide projections estimate that between 2002 and 2012 the United States will need 37,700 new police officers, in addition to the 30,300 positions needed to replace retirees and other persons leaving employment.2 A survey conducted under the auspices of the California Chiefs of Police Association consistently ranked recruitment and selection among the top two issues facing law enforcement in the next five years, regardless of agency size.3
Another example of the fallout in filling positions is President Bush's recent request that Congress authorize an additional 6,000 Border Patrol agents. On average, the Department of Homeland Security would need approximately 240,000 applicants to fill the positions, since only one person is appointed for every 40 individuals who apply for the position.4
This severe shortage of workers was caused by the fact that a workforce of 80 million baby boomers (persons born between 1946 and 1964) is being replaced by a workforce of 30 million-a shortfall of 50 million individuals.5 Nationally, by 2010 there will be a labor shortage of 10 million workers as the demand for employees exceeds the supply.6
The listings of vacant peace officer positions in Table 1 delineates the recruitment dilemma encountered by many agencies throughout the country. Because the screening process is stringent, over 90 percent of the applicants are rejected during the selection process. Wayne Tucker, the police chief in Oakland, California, reports that "as few as 5 percent of the applicants pass the background check and psychological and physical exams required to be an officer."20 Even after appointment, it is not unusual to lose 25 percent or more of the persons appointed during the rigorous training at the police academy.
Recruitment Efforts and Incentives
Federal, state, and local government agencies compete against one another to fill law enforcement positions. Since fewer than 5 percent of the applicants qualify for appointments, employers are reaching out and using different types of incentives to attract individuals.
The City of San Jose, California, recently sent a recruiting unit to Honolulu, Hawaii, to obtain police officer applicants.21 In turn, the Honolulu Police Department-the 12th largest in the country with 2000 sworn positions-has sent recruiters to San Diego, California, and Portland, Oregon, seeking persons interested in careers in law enforcement. The Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department-with almost 3000 sworn positions-budgeted $300,000 to expand its pool of applicants by recruiting in the Los Angeles metropolitan area for 500 vacant positions.22
Agencies are trying various incentives to attract applicants. Texas law enforcement agencies need law enforcement officers so badly that Dallas, Austin, and Houston are in the midst of a bidding war to hire veteran officers, with Houston recently upping its bonus to $7,000.23 Dallas, countering the Houston bonus, increased its bonus to $10,000.24 The San Diego, California, County Sheriff's Department has offered a $500 bounty to county employees who find applicants who become deputies. It also provides a signing bonus of $5000 to lateral hires-law enforcement officers transferring from another agency.25 The Oregon Army National Guard is offering bonuses of up to $20,000 for military police positions.26
Other incentives include the following:
Phoenix, Arizona-assistance with a down payment when purchasing a home27
King County, Washington-40 hours of vacation time for any deputy who recruits an individual who becomes an officer28
Los Angeles, California-a retirement payment of $250,000 in addition to a pension after 20 years of employment29
Lexington, Kentucky-up to $7,400 for a down payment on a home in an area designated for redevelopment30
Police Chief Magazine - View Article
it is a crisis facing nearly every city, county, and state. Far too few patrolling far too many....with not enough training.
and the results are scared officers doing stupid things.....
and it is only going to get worse
would you want your son or daughter at 20 years old to put on a badge today?
By estimation, more than 80 percent of the nation's 17,000 law enforcement agencies, large and small, have police officer positions that they cannot fill. Jim Hyde, police chief in Davis, California, reports approximately 9,000 police officer vacancies in California as of June 2006.1 However, only 2,500 officers graduated from California police academies in 2005. Nationwide projections estimate that between 2002 and 2012 the United States will need 37,700 new police officers, in addition to the 30,300 positions needed to replace retirees and other persons leaving employment.2 A survey conducted under the auspices of the California Chiefs of Police Association consistently ranked recruitment and selection among the top two issues facing law enforcement in the next five years, regardless of agency size.3
Another example of the fallout in filling positions is President Bush's recent request that Congress authorize an additional 6,000 Border Patrol agents. On average, the Department of Homeland Security would need approximately 240,000 applicants to fill the positions, since only one person is appointed for every 40 individuals who apply for the position.4
This severe shortage of workers was caused by the fact that a workforce of 80 million baby boomers (persons born between 1946 and 1964) is being replaced by a workforce of 30 million-a shortfall of 50 million individuals.5 Nationally, by 2010 there will be a labor shortage of 10 million workers as the demand for employees exceeds the supply.6
The listings of vacant peace officer positions in Table 1 delineates the recruitment dilemma encountered by many agencies throughout the country. Because the screening process is stringent, over 90 percent of the applicants are rejected during the selection process. Wayne Tucker, the police chief in Oakland, California, reports that "as few as 5 percent of the applicants pass the background check and psychological and physical exams required to be an officer."20 Even after appointment, it is not unusual to lose 25 percent or more of the persons appointed during the rigorous training at the police academy.
Recruitment Efforts and Incentives
Federal, state, and local government agencies compete against one another to fill law enforcement positions. Since fewer than 5 percent of the applicants qualify for appointments, employers are reaching out and using different types of incentives to attract individuals.
The City of San Jose, California, recently sent a recruiting unit to Honolulu, Hawaii, to obtain police officer applicants.21 In turn, the Honolulu Police Department-the 12th largest in the country with 2000 sworn positions-has sent recruiters to San Diego, California, and Portland, Oregon, seeking persons interested in careers in law enforcement. The Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department-with almost 3000 sworn positions-budgeted $300,000 to expand its pool of applicants by recruiting in the Los Angeles metropolitan area for 500 vacant positions.22
Agencies are trying various incentives to attract applicants. Texas law enforcement agencies need law enforcement officers so badly that Dallas, Austin, and Houston are in the midst of a bidding war to hire veteran officers, with Houston recently upping its bonus to $7,000.23 Dallas, countering the Houston bonus, increased its bonus to $10,000.24 The San Diego, California, County Sheriff's Department has offered a $500 bounty to county employees who find applicants who become deputies. It also provides a signing bonus of $5000 to lateral hires-law enforcement officers transferring from another agency.25 The Oregon Army National Guard is offering bonuses of up to $20,000 for military police positions.26
Other incentives include the following:
Phoenix, Arizona-assistance with a down payment when purchasing a home27
King County, Washington-40 hours of vacation time for any deputy who recruits an individual who becomes an officer28
Los Angeles, California-a retirement payment of $250,000 in addition to a pension after 20 years of employment29
Lexington, Kentucky-up to $7,400 for a down payment on a home in an area designated for redevelopment30
Police Chief Magazine - View Article
it is a crisis facing nearly every city, county, and state. Far too few patrolling far too many....with not enough training.
and the results are scared officers doing stupid things.....
and it is only going to get worse
would you want your son or daughter at 20 years old to put on a badge today?