Annual police recruitments yield fewer applicants, local agencies short-staffed
(WJAR) — Police departments across Rhode Island and Massachusetts are looking to recruit officers for open positions.
In many cases, those spots are getting harder to fill.
Warwick Police Col. Brad Connor said his department just finished a recruiting effort.
There were about 30 applicants. Only 15 showed up to the written test.
The process is open through the year.
"We have seen a steady decline over the last three years," Connor said.
A few years ago, there were 200 people applying the job.
Connor says last year, there were less than 100.
"I believe that's just about every agency in the state," Connor said.
East Providence Police Capt. Mark Cadoret said about 90 people applied to become an officer last year, and only a handful made it to the final phase.
This year, 50 have applied.
Applications are being accepted until March 3.
Cadoret says there are spots to fill.
"I am going to say we are short at least 15 right now, but we know there are retirements coming between now and the end of this year," Cadoret said.
North Kingstown police said they are about to fill two open positions, but those officers won't be on patrol until the summer.
By then, there will be two more openings.
Cardoret told NBC 10 News there may be numerous reasons why police agencies are having a hard time hiring.
"I think there's several factors. There are many people right now that are still able to work from home. There are other jobs out there that pay similarly, that don't require you go to a four-month police academy, where you are going to be physically challenged and mentally challenged and in the end this job is dangerous," Cadoret said.
Connor added that there is a slight stigma.
"Policing has gotten a little bit of a bad rap with some of the instances that have happened throughout the country, so I think is playing a bit of a role," Connor said.
Local police departments are trying to make the process of becoming an officer easier by using a program called Fit 2 Serve.
"They can take the written exam and the physical agility test in the same day, and they can provide those results to every police department in Rhode Island. The benefit is it saves the applicant a lot of money, time," Connor said.
East Providence is also offering a $7,500 bonus for applicants with prior experience. That process is open through the year.
The Municipal Police Training Academy posted a full list of job postings in Rhode Island.