“If an anti-police environment were driving separations, we would expect to see a large number of separations with years of service insufficient to retire,” Larry Hadfield, department spokesperson, said in an email. “So far, we have not seen that.”
On Thursday, Portland police reassigned sergeants and officers from three precincts "in an effort to reduce overtime costs."
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said 70 uniformed members of the NYPD and 28 civilians employees have tested positive for COVID-19. One person was released from the hospital Sunday while three remained hospitalized, according to Shea.
Senior LAPD officials have grave concerns about coronavirus infections spreading among officers, who would then have to be isolated and removed from work while the officers are tested or treated.
Even after lowering the hiring standards, many agencies can't fill their ranks. In some cities it's common for detectives and other plainclothes personnel to be sent out in uniform on patrol. In some jurisdictions it's not unusual for patrol units to field 50% of their allocated officers because they just don't have enough people to do the job.
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.
Turner said the reason PPB is understaffed is because of the "intense anti-police sentiment in our city, that city council seems to share."
The chief of the Nashville Metro Police Department took to Twitter late last week to plead for citizens to thank a police officer, appreciate the difficulty of their jobs, and understand that despite being fewer in numbers officers are being asked to do more and more every day.
Many officers say BPD is a very different place today than it once was. Those who left did so for a variety of reasons, but themes that emerged included the lack of political and community support; inadequate staffing, with days off denied and forced overtime; heavy caseloads for investigators; shrinking chances for special assignments; and sinking morale. Many who are still at BPD have expressed similar grievances.
As Albuquerque Police tries to hire more officers, the department's also looking to increase visibility by letting officers take their cars to more places while off duty.