This Isn’t the Solution to Police Staffing Shortages
June 19, 2024
Law enforcement agencies across the nation are suffering unprecedented staffing shortages so dire, that in some instances, entire departments have been forced to close. A variety of factors contribute to the unfolding retention and recruitment crisis including burnout from the coronavirus pandemic, aging work forces now eligible for retirement, and hostility to police resulting from the murder of George Floyd. Joe Gamaldi, the National Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police, offers a more scathing assessment of why morale is so low and recruitment is so hard. He blames politics, a breakdown of the fundamental rule of law, and the lack of consequences for lawbreaking: “(A) revolving door criminal justice system brought on by rogue DAs, activist judges and woke politicians allows criminals right back on the street after we risk our lives catching them; it becomes pretty clear why no one is interested in taking this job.”
Imagine then, how much more discouraging it was to existing officers and potential job candidates when the state of Washington recently announced that those who have broken the law are now welcome to enforce the law. Senate Bill 6157 allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients — illegal aliens — to apply for all civil service jobs. Washington joins California, Colorado, and Illinois which have done likewise.
FAIR helped stop similar legislation in Virginia, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
https://www.fairus.org/blog/2024/06/19/isnt-solution-police-staffing-shortages
