Police Department Hiring Crisis. How bad is the problem? In response to a significant hiring crisis, police departments nationwide, including the Philadelphia Police Department, are loosening various policies to attract more recruits. The changes have led to a notable increase in cadets passing entry exams. You can stay updated about this and other crime and trauma stories simply by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and most all social media platforms.
Facing substantial vacancies and public safety concerns, the Philadelphia Police Department adopted new strategies to bring in more candidates, including lowering the requirements for the entry physical fitness exam. This adjustment is part of a broader national trend to reevaluate and modify policies that have traditionally limited the pool of law enforcement applicants. Check out all of our great interviews available as a free podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or most major podcast platforms.
Police Department Hiring Crisis. How bad is the problem?
Departments across the country are reconsidering standards on tattoos, past drug use, physical fitness, and educational requirements. For instance, Los Angeles now offers housing subsidies, Washington, D.C., provides signing bonuses over $20,000, and some states have expanded eligibility to non-citizens or lowered the minimum age for officers to 18.
A law signed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro last year reduced the physical fitness requirements for Philadelphia police applicants. Under the new regulations, candidates only need to meet the 15th percentile of the department’s fitness standards, translating to fewer sit-ups or pushups and more time for the 1.5-mile run. Since implementing these changes, the pass rate for the physical exam has increased from 36% to 51%. For more news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and numerous other social media platforms.
"Getting them in at a reasonable, logical number gets us more people and better opportunities," said Captain John Walker, who oversees recruitment for the Philadelphia Police Department.
Public safety remains a significant concern for Philadelphians, influencing the recent mayoral election where Democratic candidate Cherelle Parker, who campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, was elected. The police department aims to fill around 836 vacancies within its 6,000-officer force, further strained by approximately 470 officers unable to perform street duty due to injuries. All of our great interviews are available as a free podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or most major podcast platforms.
"We're addressing these barriers to entry and creating opportunities while listening to candidates' needs," Walker added.
Police Department Hiring Crisis. How bad is the problem?
Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, noted that police departments across the nation face similar challenges, with higher resignation and retirement rates compounding the hiring crisis. The increased scrutiny of police officers since the murder of George Floyd in 2020 has also impacted the profession's attractiveness. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, MeWe and other social media platforms.
Governor Shapiro's removal of the college credit requirement for state troopers led to a surge in applications, demonstrating the impact of policy changes on recruitment.
Tyler Derr, a recent Philadelphia recruit driven by a desire to serve the public, found the revised physical exam manageable but cautioned against lowering standards excessively. "We should maintain high physical and moral standards," he emphasized.
Wexler echoed this sentiment, warning against compromising character in the hiring process. "One bad officer can undermine an entire department and affect a whole city, as we saw in Minneapolis," he said.
Police Department Hiring Crisis. How bad is the problem? Listen to numerous episodes of the radio show as a free podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website or most major podcast platforms.
Recent surveys by PERF indicate some recovery from staffing challenges, with increased hiring and decreased resignations and retirements in 2023. However, large agencies still face significant staffing shortages compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The Baltimore Police Department, despite being one of the highest-paid agencies in Maryland, also faces severe manpower shortages. Reports indicate a shortfall of 500 officers, leading to dangerous staffing levels and increased reliance on overtime. Efforts to hire civilians to support the department are underway, but changing public perceptions of police officers remains crucial for long-term recruitment success.
Shortages lead to more forced overtime, fewer breaks from stress and trauma, and longer response times for both emergency and non-emergency calls. The critical questions remain: how will these shortages affect the quality of life, and will lowered standards become more widespread?
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