Many police departments have experienced a decline in recruitment. A recent study from the Police Executive Research Forum revealed that, compared to the past, applications for police jobs have decreased by 63%. Not only is the overall number of applicants decreasing, but they are also retiring early. As a result, many police departments have been adjusting their hiring standards. Others have been streamlining the application process.
Despite these issues, police recruitment is still an issue for many departments. Some law enforcement officials attribute the drop in new recruits to several factors, including increased scrutiny of the police and a lack of minority candidates. The rise in public acceptance of marijuana, along with the emergence of social media, may be contributing factors in the decline in police recruitment. The use of excessive force by police has also led to a decrease in recruitment. Some departments report a 50 to 70 percent decrease in new hires since 2015.
Increasing scrutiny of police officers and the widespread media coverage of violent crimes have exacerbated these challenges. Local pay and pension issues have also hurt the police recruitment. A recent study by a consulting firm found that Dallas’s police department needed a “refreshed mission” and a strategy to attract more qualified candidates.
No Qualified Candidates
The Los Angeles Police Department has also seen a decline in recruitment, as potential candidates in the area choose more lucrative and flexible jobs. In addition to the decline in police recruitment, the number of new applicants to police departments has only increased by five percent, compared to ten percent in recent years. Police officers are also retiring in huge numbers. This is in part due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has taken its toll on officer morale. In some departments, the number of retirements rose by 45 percent last year, while hiring decreased by five percent. While the numbers are still low, there are several reasons for this downward trend.
In addition to reducing the number of applicants, the Los Angeles Police Department has seen a 5% drop in its hiring. Moreover, the recruitment of women has decreased by 45% compared to a year ago. This is a significant decline in police hiring. The PERF survey also revealed that women and minorities are the most likely candidates for police positions. Besides a decrease in police recruits, the city has experienced a pandemic that affected its budget.
Another reason for the current decline in police recruitment is the changing public’s attitudes towards police departments. According to a survey from the Forum, 55% of American adults said that police violence against the public is a serious issue. Furthermore, the highly publicized deaths of Philando Castile, Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks, just to name a few, have led to many calls to cut armed officers and reduce the size of local departments. While this is not a cause for alarm, it does indicate a trend in the negative direction for police departments across the country.