Shorthanded New York Department Uses Billboards to Recruit Officers

The Auburn (NY) Police Department has placed giant "we're hiring" signs in the local area in an effort to fill the ranks as numerous officers are set to retire in coming months.

According to Spectrum News , the department of 67 officers is already down nine—mostly due to retirement. The signs encourage lateral transfers rather than brand new recruits.

Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler said, "We thought about where is the most viable candidates. Onondaga County has towns, villages, cities, the Sheriff's Department. Maybe there are some officers there that are looking for a slower pace or smaller agency. We figured, ‘How do we get the word out?'"

Butler said prior to putting up the billboards, he did reach out to other agencies to give them a heads up about his recruitment efforts. The only agencies the Auburn PD cannot take recruits from are the NYPD and New York State Police.