EP 39: The Police Recruitment Problem (And Solutions?)

It's a nationwide issue weighing on police departments of all sizes: the lack of good, qualified applicants when police chiefs seek to hire officers. Salary concerns, public scrutiny, the inherent dangers, long hours and the need for wholehearted commitment are just a few factors stressing the profession. And there's more. To get a handle on it, we talk with an expert and visit with police officials who recently changed their own agency's hiring approach expressly to turn things around. Did it work? (Oh, and after the serious talk, we have a few more names to add to our ongoing list of Best Fictional Mayors.) Show notes: ADDED 12/4/17, crazy New Zealand police recruitment video - https://youtu.be/f9psILoYmCc Hartford Courant, "Lack of Qualified Applicants Forced Delay in Adding Cops to City Force" - http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-police-classes-20170127-story.html Washington Post (2006), "Police Finding it Hard to Fill Jobs" - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/26/AR2006032600995.html The Forecaster, "Call for help: Southern Maine police department jobs going vacant" - http://www.theforecaster.net/call-for-help-police-department-jobs-going-vacant/ The Balance, "Why Police Departments are Facing Recruitment Problems" - https://www.thebalance.com/why-police-departments-are-facing-recruitment-problems-974771 Governing, "WANTED: Police for Hire, Minorities Encouraged" - http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/gov-police-hiring-recruitment-minorities.html The Pantagraph, "Challenge remains in hiring minority, female police officers" - http://www.pantagraph.com/news/challenge-remains-in-hiring-minority-female-police-officers/article_36979ced-346a-53a9-9ede-c8c2e37872a0.html Burlington, NC recruitment video - http://burlingtonnc.gov/1126/Employment-Opportunities Police Foundation, "Recruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Law Enforcement Officers" - https://www.policefoundation.org/recruiting-selecting-and-retaining-law-enforcement-officers/ Southern City (2016), "Rebuilding Trust: Law Enforcement Leaders, Legislators Talk Modern Issues with Police and Public" - https://www.nclm.org/programs-services/publications/southern-city/2016/2016-09/Pages/RebuildingTrust.aspx#.WhxThSNzKUl Mayor Lenny - http://ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Mayor_Lenny