Extensive recruiting and hiring helps Kent Police Department fill staffing vacancies

KENT, Wash. – Legislation enforcement businesses throughout Washington and the nation are competing for the very best candidates to hitch their group. 

Whereas some departments wrestle to fill open positions, intensive recruiting efforts helped Kent Police Division fill all staffing vacancies. 

From signing bonuses to campaigning at faculties, providing to take patrol vehicles house, private contact, schooling periods and an elevated social media presence—all of these measures resulted in 36 new hires for the division since Might 2022. 

“Very excited to see all that come into fruition and other people on the road having contact with the neighborhood,” stated Assistant Police Chief Jarod Kasner.

The brand new hires embody extra ladies and other people of colour on the drive. This brings the division again to a workers of 166 officers, which is the licensed quantity beneath the town funds. Kasner stated the recruits nonetheless have a methods to go earlier than they’re out combating crime. 

“They need to undergo coaching, end up within the academy after which do the in-house coaching,” stated Kasner.

As soon as the police academy, paperwork and coaching on the division are full, Kasner stated the brand new hires would start working locally by late 2023 into the following 12 months.

Nonetheless, extra officers couldn’t come at a extra vital time in public security. Leaders of space businesses stated property crime numbers are reaching regarding highs together with automotive thefts. In a brand new report from the Puget Sound Auto Theft Process Power, there have been greater than 45,000 vehicles stolen throughout Washington in 2022. 

Kasner stated Kent can also be seeing a noticeable enhance in automotive thefts.

“For components, a journey or use that automotive to commit against the law as a result of it’s not traced to the people who find themselves driving it,” stated the assistant chief.

With crime charges reaching alarming ranges nationwide, staffing at responding regulation enforcement businesses are stretched skinny.

“All people throughout the nation is feeling the strains of low staffing, crime charges rising, all of that. And it’s mainly a race to attempt to fill your numbers. However in our group, not solely is it a race, however we’re additionally in search of high quality competency and actually individuals in our group which are going to positively affect the neighborhood,” stated Kasner. 

Although the division has crammed the vacancies, Kasner stated their recruiting and hiring efforts gained’t cease. 

“Though we might hit 166 on Tuesday, which is our licensed energy, we want extra. There’s accidents, there’s retirements. So, the quantity is at all times a sliding scale,” stated Kasner. “The hope is there on all ranges as a result of we nonetheless take care of legislative impacts in addition to our personal staffing points.”

One in every of their most profitable instruments to get individuals to hitch their drive will proceed to be an elevated presence on social media, which Kasner stated has confirmed to work of their favor regardless of the naysayers.

“Lots of instances individuals say, ‘Oh, you’re simply choosing them up as a result of they wish to work right here.’ Our mission is to get individuals in right here, but additionally our mission is to verify the Kent Police Departments and the Metropolis of Kent thrive. So, by making an attempt to chop corners and simply rent individuals with out an funding on each ends, that’s the place businesses, in addition to ourselves, have fallen quick previously. So, studying from these previous experiences is the place our recruiting group made a big impact,” stated Kasner.

Extra details about recruiting, hiring and profession alternatives is obtainable on Kent Police Division’s web site.