Recruitments in smaller Police Departments in Mid-Missouri suffering
As Police Departments across the nation are struggling to recruit new potential officers, here in Mid-Missouri help is also wanted.
Not only are larger scale Police Departments struggling with recruitment but smaller scale departments are needing help.
Chief Steve Myers with Fulton Police Department told ABC 17 News that on an everyday basis they use to have fifteen applications on standby, and now they are lucky if they even get one. “We have people not wanting to join the profession anymore, the numbers in the academy are dropping as well.”
Staffing levels at Fulton Police Department were low for three years, and within the last two weeks they were finally able to reach a full staff. Chief Myers says, “not only does the Police Department feel the effects, but the community does too.” The priority of calls starts to shift. At one point, overtime hours were so high, that as of July the overtime budget is maxed out.
Centralia Police Department went thru a similar struggle as well saying recruiting is a continuous battle that they will always have to fight, especially in a smaller department. Chief Dudgeon told ABC 17 News that, “the whole game has changed,” he says, “less people are seeking law enforcement careers.”
Larger cities like Kansas City and St. Louis are even coming to police training academies in Mid Missouri to recruit, because the larger departments are feeling the effects as well. Chief Myers says, “it’s too hard to compete with Kansas City salary wise,” he says, “people are flocking to the agencies that can pay them thousands more.”
Despite the shortages both smaller Police Departments say their procedures haven’t changed, and pairing up officers hasn’t been done unless backup is needed.
Fulton Police Department says they have had several officers leave recently because of the current events.
ABC 17 News has reached out to local Police Training Academies for the latest recruitment numbers and we are still waiting to hear back.
