DOJ Report Addresses Law Enforcement Agencies’ Recruitment, Retention Challenges

Newly minted NYPD officers celebrate their graduation at Madison Square Garden in this 2015 photo. / Photo via Shutterstock

By Tammy Leytham

The law enforcement profession faces an employee crisis, as agencies struggle to recruit, hire, and retain police officers.

In response, the U.S. Justice Department recently released “Recruiting and Retention for the Modern Law Enforcement Agency,” the result of input from law enforcement and community leaders from across the country.

The report offers several recommendations to help meet the crisis, including:

• Reconsidering officer eligibility requirements to better reflect modern police work

• Modernizing and accelerating the hiring process

• Investing in officer health, safety and wellbeing

• Working with community leaders to target diverse candidates and potential recruits who might otherwise not consider law enforcement as a career

The convening was facilitated by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance at the request of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“Law enforcement officers across the country are facing unprecedented challenges at a time when they are already being stretched thin,” AG Garland said in a press release. “The Justice Department has produced this report because we recognize the urgency and significance of the recruitment and retention crisis that agencies are encountering.”

Garland called policing “a noble profession,” and said his office is committed to doing everything possible to “support local police departments as they work to serve their communities, build public trust, and keep people safe.”

There are 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States, with more than one million employees. Seventy percent of those are sworn officers.

Despite an increase in the number of law enforcement jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a slow decline in the ratio of residents to police officers.

The job typically requires a high school diploma, though some agencies require a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing on-the-job training. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications, according to the BLS.

The median annual wage for police and detectives was $69,160 in May 2022, BLS reports.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said the more than 50 recommendations in the DOJ report will help police departments enhance recruitment and retention.

“The Justice Department is committed to helping state and local law enforcement retain their critically important workforce – while recruiting the next generation of brave public servants,” Monaco said.

Among those recommendations is the need to broaden eligibility.

“In addition to identifying candidates who meet the minimum standards, agencies should seek to attract those who possess character traits and values that align with their community. In addition, agencies may consider categorizing some requirements as immediate (e.g., lack of criminal history) while allowing recruits additional time, such as during the academy, to meet other requirements (e.g., physical fitness),” the report states.

The report notes one way to speed up the hiring process is to “test smaller numbers of applicants frequently rather than requiring all applicants to test in a large group once or twice a year.”

In many cases, the report notes, agencies support only a limited number of academy classes each year. “While these limits help control costs, they may also force candidates who have completed the hiring process up to that point to wait an extended period of time before they can begin the academy.”

Another part of the report focuses on upgrading benefits, such as:

• Review pension/retirement plans to determine if they work for the younger generation

• Evaluate sign-on bonuses to consider bonus incentives for additional training, clearances, and credentials

• Consider increased time off, expanded healthcare options, and updated equipment

COPS Office Director Hugh T. Clements said the challenge of hiring the right officers and keeping them on the force is one of the most difficult issues facing law enforcement agencies across the country.

“I know this publication is a resource that law enforcement executives have expressed a need for, and I believe this publication is an important step in meeting the recruitment and retention challenge,” Clements said.

The COPS Office, established in 1994, is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide.