Police departments throughout the United States are experiencing a rise in their personnel, marking the first increase since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 killing of George Floyd. This surge comes after a significant exodus of officers, as reported in a recent survey.
In 2023, a higher number of sworn officers were hired compared to any of the previous four years. Additionally, there was a decrease in the overall number of officers who resigned or retired. This information is based on a survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), which received responses from 214 law enforcement agencies.
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The tragic death of Floyd, caused by Minneapolis police officers, ignited widespread protests against police brutality and intensified the scrutiny of law enforcement.
With the increasing departure of officers, numerous departments have had to reallocate their limited resources by reassigning officers from investigative tasks or addressing quality of life concerns like abandoned vehicles or noise violations. This has resulted in a surge in crime rates and, in certain instances, longer response times or restricted emergency responses, according to police officials.
Chuck Wexler, executive director of PERF, a nonprofit policing think tank based in Washington, D.C., expressed his belief that the past four years have posed significant challenges for American policing. However, he also mentioned that their recent survey indicates a positive shift in the right direction.
According to Wexler, individual departments are making progress at different speeds, but many are still facing challenges in recruiting and retaining officers.
According to him, the profession as a whole still has a long way to go.
Several unions and police departments were contacted by The Associated Press via phone and email to inquire about the rise in hiring.
According to the survey, smaller and medium-sized departments have seen an increase in the number of sworn officers compared to January 2020. However, larger departments are still operating with staffing levels that are more than 5% below those of that time. Despite a year-over-year increase from 2022 to 2023, large departments are still struggling to reach their previous staffing levels.
Smaller police departments, consisting of fewer than 50 officers, continue to grapple with a higher rate of resignations and retirements, as indicated by the survey.
According to Wexler, the survey specifically requested numerical data, making it difficult to determine whether these officers are departing for bigger departments or exiting the profession entirely. Additionally, Wexler noted that the responses received by PERF were not representative of smaller departments, which constitute 80% of agencies across the country.
Many smaller departments are unable to compete with larger departments when it comes to officer pay and incentives. In fact, several smaller departments have even disbanded, leaving the communities they once served to rely on state or county assistance for law enforcement. On the other hand, larger departments have been able to attract experienced officers by offering signing bonuses and other incentives.
Even the highest-paying large departments are facing challenges in attracting new hires.
According to Wexler, it’s not just about the money when it comes to job satisfaction. It’s also about how people perceive their job and the support they receive. Despite offering six-figure salaries, some West Coast departments still struggle to attract and hire employees.
Many agencies are currently reassessing their application requirements and hiring processes, in addition to reevaluating pay and bonuses.
Wexler supports certain changes that seem reasonable, such as permitting visible tattoos, reassessing the significance of previous financial problems, and expediting background checks for applicants. However, he emphasized that PERF does not endorse compromising training standards or lowering requirements for potential candidates.
Maria “Maki” Haberfeld, the Chair of the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, believes that police departments have placed excessive emphasis on the quantity of officers rather than the quality. She expresses concern that some departments are compromising education requirements and other standards in order to increase their numbers, instead of prioritizing the selection of exceptional individuals to serve and protect their communities.
She emphasized that policing is a highly skilled profession that goes beyond superficial aspects like tattoos or physical fitness. It requires a deep understanding of emotional intelligence, maturity, and the ability to make critical decisions in a split second, without resorting to deadly force.
According to Haberfeld, it is important to note that any increase in staffing achieved through incentives may be nullified due to the actions of officers, including those in riot gear, who have been observed dispersing protests against the Israel-Hamas war at various universities nationwide.
She emphasized that in the field of policing, progress is a slow and gradual process that requires years of effort and dedication. However, she also pointed out that public perception can change in an instant, leading to a decline in trust and support.
According to the survey conducted by PERF, there has been a significant decrease of over 20% in resignations overall. In 2022, the number of resignations peaked at almost 6,500, but it dropped to fewer than 5,100 in 2023. It is important to note that although the current numbers are still higher than the pre-pandemic levels in 2020, when slightly over 4,000 officers resigned across all the participating departments.
The hiring increases had an impact on the rate of retirements, which varied depending on the size of the departments. In 2023, large departments experienced fewer retirements compared to 2019. On the other hand, medium departments saw a slight increase in retirements, while small departments had a significant rise in retirements. Interestingly, the survey revealed a sharp decline in resignations at large agencies with 250 or more officers, as well as medium-sized agencies with between 50 and 249 officers.
Wexler attributes the improved retention in public safety departments to a shift in how some public officials view them, in addition to pay and benefit increases.
According to the speaker, there has been a significant shift in the mindset of political leaders. He pointed out that just a few years ago, the public discourse revolved around defunding the police. However, now these same officials are waking up to the reality that their workforce is dwindling. This indicates a clear change in perspective among political leaders.
