x
Breaking News
More () »

#13Investigates: Officer shortage impacting Central Georgia

What are the factors creating these vacancies, and why aren't they being filled?

Law enforcement agencies in Central Georgia follow a national trend -- having trouble finding and keeping officers.

What are the factors creating these vacancies, and why aren't they being filled?

Deputy Jaleel Brown just started at the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

When he gears up to start his day, his primary motivation is to use the badge to make a difference like his father.

"Seeing that we are in the same uniform potentially doing the same job, I have to remind myself that when he started law enforcement, it was an entirely different time," said Brown.

"When I first started doing hiring, I got 30 applicants a month. Now, I get 5. Out of those 5, we normally keep one," said Michael Clay, administrative assistant for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Clay has been with the department for 7 years. He says in Monroe, they have 9 deputies' positions vacant. In a department of 70, that's 12 percent of the department missing.

But the officer shortages also affect bigger agencies. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office reports 167 vacancies, but they're budgeted for 613 positions, meaning 27 percent of the department is missing.

John Edwards has been a public officer since 1977. He's a former GBI agent and now works for the Georgia Peace Officers Association. He says local governments need to invest in law enforcement.

Starting pay for both Monroe County and Bibb deputies is around $35,000 a year. A Rand Corporation study says low pay is one of the reasons why officers and deputies leave. Training opportunities, retirement and benefits, stress, advancement opprtunities, and even having the ability to take home cars can all determine if officers leave. The study was published 8 years ago. Since then, Edwards has something to add to the list.

"The negative publicity of the media has had an adverse effect on policing throughout the country," said Edwards.

He says members of the public recording officers on cellphones puts them under higher scrutiny when they aleady have to make split-second decisions.

Brown says he can put in overtime to make up for the vacant positions and bring home some more money, but that money doesn't matter. He says it's more about the lives he can impact.

"The reward is just knowing your community is safe," said Brown.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says national employment for police and detectives is projected to grow by 7 percent by 2026. That growth level is on par with other professions.

Before You Leave, Check This Out