Law enforcement departments across the country are grappling with a police officer shortage. Although police officer hiring nationwide went up in 2023 for the first time in years, individual departments around the U.S. are speaking out about their struggles with both recruitment and retention of officers. 

It's no secret that being a police officer is inherently challenging and dangerous. Officers  face real threats on the job. They're at risk of gun violence from offenders, overexertion from maneuvering with a duty belt or bulletproof vest, and exposure to dangerous chemicals. 

Responding on the road is also a lesser-known, but very real, risk to police officer safety. As we reported in the Cost of Collisions, an average of 12,200 roadway responses occur every day in the United States, where responders are under the threat of everyday drivers hitting, clipping, or colliding with them as they drive by. First responders like police officers must navigate congested highways and dangerous roads to respond to traffic accidents, 911 calls, active crime scenes, and all other emergencies. Many members of the motoring public aren't aware of how much danger they face from just the other drivers around them. 

Law enforcement is undeniably a challenging role. But communities large and small cannot function without people in these positions. This article will explore the state of the ongoing police officer shortage, discussing factors contributing to it and strategies for looking out for officers during a personnel shortage.   

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Police departments around the country are facing a police officer shortage

In 2023, NBC News reported that Josh Smith, Police Chief of Goodhue Minnesota, struggled to fill officer vacancies in his small department. Chief Smith went to his city council for help with the crisis. He warned the council that, unless officer pay and benefits improved, finding new officers would likely not happen for the department.

Nothing changed. That led to his resignation. His remaining officers followed suit, meaning that his small town of 1,300 had to completely shut down its police force. 

The Goodhue police department is not alone in this crisis. In August 2024, CBS News reported that Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley shared similar concerns. At the time of reporting, Baltimore had 1,981 officers, which is well below the 2,600 needed to be considered fully staffed. 75 new officers have been hired so far this year while 86 have left. 

In February of 2024, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry actually issued a state of emergency regarding the Louisiana law enforcement officer shortage. According to WDSU 6, "Law enforcement agencies have seen 47% more resignations in 2022 than in 2019, and as of July 2023, sheriff's offices statewide are down 1,800 deputies." 

He went on to say that the shortage is affecting officers' response times. That threatens the lives, property and safety of all members of the community. Landry considered the declaration a crisis, as law enforcement departments are unable to hire faster than they are losing officers.

In April 2024, the Long Beach Police Department reported that its staffing was at a critical low. Lt. Rich Chambers said it was the greatest number of vacancies he had seen in over 25 years, noting the department was down more than 100 sworn positions. 

He told ABC 7 they budgeted for just about 824 officers to help keep a community of about 500,000 people safe. Police officers and detectives had needed to work extra shifts in patrol each month to cover for the shortage. 

"An example is that a detective would normally just be tasked with investigating one of these crimes once they occurred, but that detective right now also has the responsibility of going out and putting a uniform on and working a patrol shift a number of times per month to make sure we have enough officers on the streets," said Chambers.

The challenges of police recruitment and retention

A 2022 Brother article referenced bleak trends. Two-thirds of survey respondents stated that police recruitment and retention is the largest issue facing law enforcement. The amount of police officers in service has also decreased while the population has increased. 

A 2021 International Association of Chiefs of Police Survey on police retention and recruitment echoed similar findings:

• 78% of agencies reported having difficulty in recruiting qualified candidates
• 65% of agencies reported having too few candidates applying to be law enforcement officers
• 75% of agencies reported that recruiting was more difficult in 2019 than it was in 2014

But just because departments are experiencing a staffing shortage doesn't mean the dangers of the job go away. Police officers around the country who remain have had  to increase their workload and put in mandatory overtime. This may lead to burnout, which greatly compromises a police officer's mental well-being. That’s why departments need to make sure to provide officers with extra support during staffing shortages.  

Tips for dealing with a police officer shortage

A police officer shortage negatively impacts the department and the community at large. When officers are overworked, their job performance may suffer. That may lead to them being less sharp on the job, which can compromise their safety and that of their fellow officers. These job conditions can lead to higher levels of police burnout and depression, too. 

InTime goes on to say: "In communities, the impact of police shortages can be even more pronounced. A reduced police presence can result in slower response times to emergencies, limited resources for proactive policing, and increased crime rates. Residents may feel less safe, and trust in law enforcement may erode, leading to strained community-police relationships."

Police shortages have the potential to hinder efforts to improve community safety. Here are some tips for departments to help alleviate the stress of a personnel shortage: 

• Offer recruitment and retention incentives: Many departments around the country have begun to offer recruitment and retention incentives to find new officers and maintain their job satisfaction. These rewards could be competitive salary and benefits packages to attract new officers and retain experienced ones. Tuition reimbursement encourages career development, which can keep officers passionate about learning and growing in the field. 
• Create backup protocols: The officer shortage is likely impacting your neighboring departments too. Help each other out. As Police 1 says, work with them to arrange agreements so that backing each other up becomes a priority. When you hear each other engage with someone, head toward each other’s location and back each other up.
• Look out for your fellow officers: Whether you're a retired officer or off-duty, keep an eye out for on-call officers. If you see a lone officer with a contact, pull over and watch for a bit to make sure they are okay.
• Invest in ongoing officer training: Ongoing training and education for police officers will help enhance their skills and keep them up to date with the latest law enforcement techniques and technologies. This will help officers to feel safer on the job and better supported by the community.
• Offer mental health resources: Promote a culture that encourages seeking help when needed without fear of stigma from fellow officers. Make that support available on-site with various mental health resources and counselors that are specific to policing and first responders. Police officers are more likely to see therapists and counselors if they understand law enforcement experience.
• Engage with the community: Strengthen the relationship with community members and police officers through community policing initiatives, outreach programs and transparency in policing practices.
• Reassess department priorities: As InTime suggests, make a plan to determine where your resources are needed most. For example, are routine traffic stops still needed in your community? If not, use your traffic unit for another response. Or, cut down the number of officers needed in your traffic unit
• Implement new technology: New public safety technology can help police departments operate more efficiently and effectively. They can automate administrative tasks, improve communication between officers and enhance public safety. For example, your department can implement smart scheduling to ensure shifts are adequately staffed while minimizing the strain on officers. Public safety technology can also help better protect your personnel when they’re on the job.

Keep officers safe with collision avoidance systems

A collision avoidance system prevents accidents by assisting drivers in the moments before an incident. Digital alerting is one of the most effective collision avoidance systems that first responders can utilize to protect all roadway users. Digital alert systems are electronic notifications sent directly to a driver.

Any alerting emergency vehicle or asset can be equipped with this technology. These messages notify drivers there is a nearby or upcoming roadway hazard and they need to safely slow down and move over. 

Digital alerts are more than emergency vehicle preemption (EVP). EVP gives emergency response vehicles a green light on their approach to an intersection while providing a red light to conflicting approaches. Digital alerting has nothing to do with traffic lights. When an emergency vehicle broadcasts a digital alert, it simply notifies nearby drivers to temporarily slow down and move over, instead of stopping for a red light.

Analog alerting systems like lights and sirens are no longer enough on their own to keep first responders like police officers safe on the road. Traffic deaths in the U.S. are on the rise and the motoring public is driving more distracted than ever, thanks to soundproof cars and technology. First responders are constantly at risk. Digital alerting systems protect the people who put their lives on the line every day. 

Safety Cloud® only alerts when you’re actively responding

Safety Cloud by HAAS Alert is the leading digital alerting system built with police officer safety in mind. It broadcasts digital alerts to drivers up to 30 seconds before they come into contact with a roadway hazard. These messages notify drivers of an upcoming roadway hazard and prompt them to slow down, and move over. 

Collision avoidance systems like Safety Cloud can reduce the risk of collision by 90 percent, compared to traditional alerting systems working on their own. Real Safety Cloud customers like the Columbus Fire Department have seen results themselves. The department saw a 15 percent reduction in struck-by collisions after just one year with Safety Cloud.

Installing Safety Cloud service is a seamless experience. You can activate it by installing a small piece of hardware in your vehicle or activate through platforms that you already use, like Whelen or ACETECH

Once the service is installed, you’ll automatically begin to broadcast alerts once your light bar is activated. The motoring public receives alerts through compatible in-vehicle infotainment centers and leading navigation apps. They’re only notified of your presence when you are actively responding in their vicinity. 

They cannot the location of police vehicles beyond that. Drivers are only alerted in the situations when a law enforcement officer needs to be seen — when there's an emergency nearby and an officer needs the roads cleared. 

Once an officer switches off their lights and sirens, the vehicle will cease sending out alerts. Drivers will have no insight into police vehicles' locations at that point. 

Safety Cloud can help officers coordinate with other responding agencies, which is crucial if your department is experiencing a police officer shortage. Deputy Fire Chief Larry Fox of Mount Laurel Fire Department implemented Safety Cloud to better protect his crew on the road. But he realized the benefit it would have on his fellow first responders too.

When Larry’s crew is responding to a crash, police officers and EMS workers will likely be there too. He realized that this technology would help prevent struck-by collisions and near misses for all first responders on the scene. 

“Mount Laurel EMS and Police don’t have these systems in their vehicles,” Deputy Chief Fox explained. “But anytime we’re responding to a crash, there’s going to be a police officer there — sometimes an ambulance, too. They’ll benefit from the early warning as much as us.”

Safety Cloud digital alerting is an effective way to enhance the power of your light bars and protect your officers on the road. Download the Safety Cloud for Law Enforcement guide to learn more about the power of digital alerting.