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Meeting the Personnel Needs of Law Enforcement in the Next Millennium

NCJ Number
177773
Author(s)
Paul Henisey; Don Pedersen
Date Published
1998
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The goal of this study was to assess future personnel demands of law enforcement agencies in the Los Angeles region and to develop strategies to meet those demands.
Abstract
A questionnaire was mailed to local area police departments. The 37 responding police departments indicated at least 4,794 new police officers, or 28.4 percent of their total strength, would have to be hired over the next 5 years. To analyze issues, identify trends and events, and develop ideas for a strategic plan to meet future personnel needs, a nominal group technique panel was convened. Trends identified by the panel as having the greatest positive impact on personnel recruitment included level of preparation and training for potential recruits, prospects for the region-based hiring and training, new generation of police officers, and development of effective marketing strategies. Trends with a potential negative impact included size and makeup of the applicant pool, difficult and complex nature of police work, rising number of retirements, and increasing number of additional officer positions. Events that could have positive and negative impacts on personnel recruitment were also evaluated. The following strategies were identified to improve the ability of police departments to successfully recruit officers: hire ethnic minorities, interact effectively with the community, reach out to prospective officer candidates, use the Internet and computerized recruitment techniques, and offer scholarships to officer candidates who are qualified and willing to make a service commitment. 18 references and 7 endnotes