PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There’s a shortage of qualified applicants needed to fill openings in police departments across Pennsylvania.
State Police Troopers Association President David Kennedy says there was declining interest before COVID, but he says the pandemic, combined with riots after the murder of George Floyd, and the “defund the police” movement led to an exodus known as the ‘Great resignation.’
“A criminal knows its numbers advantages, and they know now our officers are spread far too thin,” he said. “The result, increased crime and violence is taking place all across Pennsylvania.”
Kennedy says the resignation rate in 2020 to 2021 increased by 18 percent, and the retirement rate rose by 45 percent.
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Larry Gerrity with the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police says a combination of funding issues and decreased morale has resulted in fewer positive interactions in the community.
“We’re no longer reaching out to these kids because we can't afford it or we don't have time for it,” he said. “Street safety comes first, community safety comes first. The programs are second.”
Harrisburg police captain Atah Akakpo-Martin says law enforcement used to have more positive interactions with children in schools or through other programs. Now, the anti-police sentiment has changed that.
“The perception out there is we’re only out there to lock people up – and sometimes we're getting that straight from parents,” Martin said. “So if that's the case, we're already setting up people to be jaded, especially our young adults to be jaded against the law enforcement community.”
The testimony was part of a House GOP hearing on EMS. Lawmakers also heard challenges facing fire departments and ambulance services.