Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Ads are appearing all over social media and on billboards throughout the city of Buffalo. Rochester Police are looking for police recruits.
In an effort to reach as many people as possible, they've expanded
their reach to Buffalo, something they have never had to do before.
A sign that policing has become very competitive.
"It's a six figure job and they have to come to Buffalo to try and fill," said
Jeff Rinaldo with Vista Security Group, and a former Buffalo Police Captain.
The recruiting effort in Rochester is highlighting a salary of $102,651 after 44 months. They currently have more than 90 open positions.
"New York State has, over the last few years, started to criminalize police work," Rinaldo said, "between the passage of bail reform and the bills that are sitting in front of the Legislature that will make law enforcement much more difficult. And now they're starting to penalize and imprison police officers for doing their job. That's why it's becoming increasingly difficult to recruit."
Rinaldo said the Buffalo Police Department used to get 5 or 6 thousand people to take the police exam. The last exam drew just shy of 12 hundred people.
"There is a limited pool of people in the country right now that are willing to take on these roles."
He said police departments are going to have to get away from residency requirements and recruiting in their own backyard. "They're going to have to broaden their reach to find people that are willing to take on this challenge.
Rinaldo said there is risk and liability now. "Laws are now geared toward suspect's rights and not police officer's abilities to do their job."
To learn more about the Rochester Police Department, click HERE, or call or text 585-330-6943. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 9.