Critical issues in law enforcement recruiting

1. Critical issues in law enforcement recruiting Identifying impediments to recruiting and solutions to increase the law enforcement applicant pool.

2. Police recruiting problems widely reported in the nation’s news media Who wants to be a police officer? Job applications plummet at most U.S. Departments Washington Post December 4, 2018 Shortage of Officers Fuels Police Recruiting Crisis National Public Radio December 11, 2018 A Crisis Facing Law Enforcement Recruiting in the 21st Century Police Chief Magazine June 2016 Police Face Severe Shortage of Recruits ABC News July 10, 2000 “We have 119 deputies assigned to unincorporated areas of Riverside (County)… We’re supposed to have 375,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco The Press Enterprise March 4, 2019

3. Reasons for declining police applicants Perceptions of policing affecting recruitment Healthy economy deterring applicants Increased potential for prosecution due to “good faith” mistakes made as an officers Interest in becoming a police officer is declining nationally Major departments experiencing high double digit decline in applicants Affecting all types of agencies at local, state and federal levels

4. Initial application and review • Reading and written entrance examination • Physical ability assessment • Submission of personal history statement • Background investigation • Psychological examination • Medical examination • Oral or chief’s interview • Appointment Top hiring departments employ 5% of applicants, more stringent departments hirer less than 2% of applicants. California Post requirements for peace officers

5. Recruiting problem not just limited to law enforcement All branches of US military failing to meet recruitment goals Military applicant pool targets people ages 18 – 24 1 in 3 applicants disqualified because they are overweight 1 in 4 fail to meet education requirements – lack HS Diploma or GED 1 in 10 have a criminal history Bottom line – only 29% of US population qualifies for military service Law Enforcement targets this same group for the profession

6. Reasons for the decline of qualified applicants Secondary schools not meeting needs for law enforcement Politicians altering educational learning standards California POST examination test written at 11th grade level California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)written for a 9th grade level for passing CAHSEE test graduation requirement ended by governor in 2017 37 states no longer have comprehensive test exit exams California high schoolers may finish school without achieving graduation requirements and earn a “Certificate of Completion” Upwards of 70% of high school graduates are not ready to start college upon completing high school.

7. Reasons for the decline of qualified applicantsContinued Physical activity rates among high school students are declining Only 26% of HS students are physically active for 1 hour or more per day High percentage of arrests in Millennial population Upwards of 40% of Millennials have an arrest record Arrest rates rise to 60% in some minority populations Increased narcotics usage among police applicants 1 in 5 college students used drugs within the past month Academy failure rate as high as 33% with academy recruits

8. Developing Recruiting solutions Law enforcement must develop short, medium, and long term planning and solutions Law enforcement must partner with other societal institutions and contribute more in developing solutions Law enforcement agencies must be willing to contribute more active personnel outside of their agency in developing future applicants Law enforcement certifying agencies need to revaluate the academy process to look for acceptable modifications in tailoring programs for different recruitment groups Any solution will not be easy and will require time before improvements are realized at the agency level

9. long term solutions Law enforcement must develop a steady stream directing potential recruits into the profession Expand law enforcement Police Activity Leagues and Explorer Programs Direct mentorship of adolescents will help change opinions and counter the current media narrative Shows officers in non-enforcement role as part of the community and individual development Develop partnerships with educators beyond SRO assignments to create programs for future officers The creation of Career Technical Education law enforcement classes at comprehensive high schools The development of law enforcement centric charter high schools

10. Middle solutions Develop “GI Bill” like programs that offer tuition payments or debt forgiveness for police service Many different types of programs Develop programs similar to ROTC scholarships for future law enforcement Enter college with a contracted law enforcement service obligation upon graduation In return tuition will be paid for by a law enforcement agency or other body Expand 2 year programs at junior colleges that offer an associates degree to culminate with completion of a comprehensive or extended academy Program oriented in addressing applicant education shortfalls and preparing them for academy training Emphasis on writing skills, legal procedure, and physical education All 39 California accredited LE academies are affiliated with a junior college

11. Solutions in a shorter term Develop programs for end of service military members to begin extended academy type training while still in military As military member nears end date, usually they have less responsibilities and more free time Utilize this end time to begin law enforcement training Law enforcement certifying agencies waiving some training requirements, like physical fitness, with military applicants to shorten training time Military and law enforcement physical training is very similar Increased use and development of reserve police officer programs Paying or offering a stipend for reserve officers with departments that don’t pay reserves Utilizing retirees in non-critical, non direct enforcement roles to supplement law enforcement activities Investigative follow-up in property crimes, evidence processing, missing person cases, etc.

12. Benefits of proposed programs Provides for continuous development of police officer applicant pool Allows for mentorship of younger groups not usually in contact with law enforcement officers Easily replicated based on other education programs already in use Any implemented idea provides feedback at various intervals in identifying success Education based programs should result in applicants who are more prepared for law enforcement work Suggested programs can be implemented at local, state, and national levels Will result in law enforcement acting in concert with non-traditional law enforcement partners

13. References California POST (Ed.). (n.d.). Building a Public Safety Career Pipeline. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://post.ca.gov/post_docs/CareerPipeline/ProgramGuideUpdate-Pipeline.pdf Harrington, T., & Freedberg, L. (2017, October 12). California joins trend among states to abandon high school exit exam. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://edsource.org/2017/california-joins-trend-among-states-to-abandon-high-school-exit-exam/588640 Hicks, J. (1986, December 12). Academy Tests Recruits' Resolve : 1 in 3 Fail to Finish 18 Weeks of Training. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from http://articles.latimes.com/1986-12-12/local/me-2399_1_training-academy Horseman, J. (2019, March 4). Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco: 'We've had a sheriff problem," not budget problem. The Press Enterprise. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.pe.com/2019/03/04/riverside-county-sheriff-chad-bianco-weve-had-a-sheriff-problem-not-budget-problem/

14. References Jackman, T. (2018, December 4). Who wants to be a police officer? Job applications plummet at most U.S. Departments. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2018/12/04/who-wants-be-police-officer-job-applications-plummet-most-us-departments/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.efb778329091 Libaw, O. Y. (2000, July 10). Police Face Severe Shortage of Recruits. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=96570&page=1 Lipari, R. N., Ph.D., & Jean-Francois, B., Ph.D. (2016, May 26). A Day in the Life of College Students Aged 18 to 22: Substance Use Facts. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2361/ShortReport-2361.html Perry, M. (2018, August 15). The Recruitment Problem the Military Doesn't Want to Talk About. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-recruitment-problem-the-military-doesnt-want-to-talk-about/ Peterson, G. (2019). Military to Police Force: A Natural Transition? Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/search/law-enforcement-jobs/military-transition-to-police-force.html

15. References Physical Activity Among U.S. High School Students (1991-2017). (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.stateofobesity.org/high-school-physical-activity/ Safier, R. (2017, June 12). Complete Guide to Military Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment. Student Loan Hero. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://studentloanhero.com/featured/military-student-loan-forgiveness-repayment/ Shortage Of Officers Fuels Police Recruiting Crisis [Advertisement]. (2018, December 11). Retrieved March 4, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/12/11/675505052/shortage-of-officers-fuels-police-recruiting-crisis Smith, S. (2016, June). A Crisis Facing Law Enforcement: Recruiting in the 21st Century. Police Cheif. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/a-crisis-facing-law-enforcement-recruiting-in-the-21st-century/ The Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Schools (LAPAMS) [Information Release]. (n.d.). Los Angeles.