Governing Magazine, August 2024
The Miami Police Department has had 809 applicants on their police officer recruitment list this year. A decade ago, they would’ve had that many applicants on the first day. Law enforcement — along with many other fields in the public sector — has struggled to hire enough staff. While 2023 saw staffing increases after years of decline, police departments around the country continue to see shortages in critical areas.
For many younger Americans, becoming a police officer is no longer an appealing career path. They may shy away from policing for a variety of reasons. For some, the image of police has taken a hit due to high-profile shootings. Others express financial concerns, while many young people have expectations that law enforcement cannot meet, such as remote work. “The risk associated with being a police officer outweighs the benefits,” says Chuck Wexler, executive director of the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum — at least for some people when other jobs can offer comparable pay for far less risk.
