ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix Police expanding recruiting efforts as numbers continue to fall

Oct 27, 2021, 11:55 AM

(KTAR News Photo)...

(KTAR News Photo)

(KTAR News Photo)

PHOENIX — Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said the department is expanding its recruiting efforts across the state and nationally as officer numbers continue to decrease.

The department is holding recruiting events in Ohio on Nov. 6-7, the first time Phoenix Police has traveled to try and boost numbers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We found through some metrics that [Ohio] is going to be a great place to recruit folks,” Williams told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday.

“Folks from the Midwest want to leave that kind of weather and come here to sunny amazing Phoenix, Arizona, to become police officers.”

Williams said she hopes the Cleveland and Columbus events can get the force closer to the 3,125 total allotted for the department.

Phoenix Police is down about 350 officers as of late October, according to Williams.

Williams added that the department would look into adding Arizona officers that lost their jobs due to noncompliance for COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Phoenix Police continues to offer $7,500 hiring bonuses as an incentive for a department that’s faced scrutiny over the ongoing Department of Justice civil rights and abuses of power investigation.

Williams said morale issues remain, but leaders are working to get a better pulse on how employees are feeling about their jobs.

“I have to go out and talk to my people and tell them what we’re doing and why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Williams said. “So we’ve been hitting briefings and we’ve been overcommunicating to our employees.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Brady Fire...

Danny Shapiro

Brady Fire forces evacuations for residents south of Prescott

The Brady Fire that sparked Monday afternoon forced evacuations for some residents south of Prescott, authorities said.

15 minutes ago

Avondale man killed by Florida police after killing 2...

Serena O'Sullivan

Avondale man shot by Florida deputies after killing 2 in armed gas station robbery

Avondale man Dominic Caroway was killed in Florida after leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a manhunt following a fatal armed robbery.

1 hour ago

Arizona gas prices have risen by 28 cents per gallon in the last month....

Kevin Stone

Here’s why Arizonans are feeling more pain at pump than most of nation

Arizona gas prices have been rising at a significantly faster pace than the rest of the nation over the last month, and the worst is yet to come.

3 hours ago

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has downsized his external communications staff from seven to ...

Associated Press

New Maricopa County recorder signals shift away from combating disinformation

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is moving away from the office's previous efforts to combat misinformation.

4 hours ago

2025 flu season worse than it's been in 15 years, data shows...

Serena O'Sullivan

Arizona nurse practitioner says this flu season is worse than last

The 2025 flu season is hitting Arizonans hard, with some patients staying sick for a whole week, according to a Banner Health nurse practitioner.

6 hours ago

climate change, young people, Mesa...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Young adults and teens combat climate change through Mesa initiative

A new Mesa grant initiative will allow young adults and teens to compete for funding for projects and ideas that address climate change.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Phoenix Police expanding recruiting efforts as numbers continue to fall