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Recruitment Dilemma: Quick Fixes, Warm Bodies and the Eternal Search for Quality

NCJ Number
183855
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 78-82
Author(s)
Hugh Tate
Editor(s)
Bruce Cameron
Date Published
May 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Finding ideal police recruits, individuals who seek a long-term career in law enforcement, is increasingly difficult, and police administrators have to consider a range of strategies to meet the challenges of filling vacancies.
Abstract
Some of the strategies available to police administrators include higher compensation for police officers, attracting lateral applicants from other police departments, signing bonuses, and lowering standards to fill quotas and meet staffing needs. Police administrators need to efficiently handle applications so that qualified applicants are considered promptly. The American Management Association believes that three major points may cause applicants to be turned off from seeking employment with a company: (1) lack of feedback on status; (2) next step in the process is unclear; and (3) process is too complicated. If the wait between the submission of an application and actual testing is short, applicants are more disposed to follow the opportunity and not lose interest. 1 photograph