Atlanta-Area Agency Facing Critical Officer Shortage
As of last month, it employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939, leaving more than a quarter of sworn officer positions vacant. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department.
The suburban Atlanta Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department was short more than 200 sworn officers at the end of 2022.
Then, as the county commission had planned nearly a year earlier, 30 more positions were added to the ranks, in the optimistic hope that one day the department’s staffing could catch up to unabated growth in Georgia’s second-biggest county, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The department has a long way to go.
As of last month, it employed 690 officers out of an authorized strength of 939, leaving more than a quarter of sworn officer positions vacant. Additionally, about 120 of the filled positions are recruits that have not completed training, according to the police department.
“The social climate over the past two to three years has made it difficult for law enforcement across the board,” said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle.
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