CONYERS, Ga. — Police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state of Georgia are having trouble hiring new recruits.
Conyers police say their recruitment challenges are worse than they have ever been, which is why they are putting a hiring bonus and pay increase in place.
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Conyers Police Deputy Chief Scott Freeman says his department is currently down eight officers, which is an entire shift for an agency their size.
“Recruitment has been extremely difficult over the last few years,” Freeman told Channel 2′s Christian Jennings. “Our applicant pool is down. Getting good, qualified people to have an interest in the job has become one of the greatest challenges we have faced as an agency.”
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For the first time in the department’s history, they are offering a $3,000 hiring bonus. Starting January 1, the base pay will also increase by 10% from $42,500 to nearly $47,000.
“Literally we had people who were employed at restaurants, I won’t say where, but, ‘I make more working here than I would as a police officer.’ We can’t have that,” Freeman said.
These officer shortages can be dangerous for the public. Earlier this month, five Pulaski County inmates with violent histories escaped from the county jail. The sheriff said they were able to escape because of officer shortages.
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Conyers and Rockdale County aren’t the only departments struggling to hire new officers.
Gwinnett County police say they are short 229 officers. Atlanta police are looking to fill 342 officer positions.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $9,000 hiring bonus.
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