Police departments across the country say they are seeing a dramatic drop in applicants, and the Syracuse Police Department is no different. Officials there tell us they are seeing less and less people apply to join the force, and they blame it largely on widespread anti-police sentiment along with retirements within the department.
Now, the department is shaking up their recruitment process to make it more applicant friendly, in hopes that more young people will give the profession a try.
Sgt. Jason Tom Is in charge of recruitment for the Syracuse police department.
“A lot of people think ‘I don’t have any knowledge about law I don’t have a background in law-enforcement how can I be a police officer?’ We teach you everything we need to know,” he said of the recruitment process.
Today he is holding an informational session for potential officers.
“How to navigate signing up for the civil service exam to become a police officer, and also educating them on the process,” he said.
It’s an audience of only two.
“It shows that it’s a really difficult time to be the police,” he said.
Sgt. Tom says sometimes these sessions draw a dozen people, but lately, the groups have been small.
“People will spit in your direction every time you drive by, but then there are the people who will thank you,” he told the two potential recruits in attendance.
“We’re judged by actions of police officers from across the country,” he said. “I can’t defend every police officer but there are police officers that make bad decisions we are human just like everyone else and they should be held accountable.”
He says the department is working to fight that negative sentiment, while making it easier for potential recruits to pass exams and join the force. This is being done through not only those informational sessions, but other measures as well.
On a 90 degree day at Onondaga Community College, Just under a dozen prospective officers were testing their physical limits.
“What we’re doing today is running free police agility training sessions for people who have either taken the civil service exam, the written exam or are taking the written exam and previously failed at the agility test,” Sgt. Tom said.
The goal is to make sure every prospective officer passes the agility test, a critical test to enter a profession that relies on physical fitness. Prospective officers like Nicolas Muehberger
He says he’s looking to join the force because he feels the police play a critical role in the community.
“I want to find something that gives me purpose,” he said. “Giving back to the community and helping others that kind of feel forgotten in today’s society.“
Acknowledging the decline in applicants, he says the process has certainly not been easy, nor is the decision to enter a dangerous and highly scrutinized profession.
“You really have to sit down and think about it,” he said. “The job consists of risks but with risks there comes a reward. You have to put your heart into it you have to be able to think outside of yourself.“
Sgt. Tom says despite the struggles in recruiting, the city of Syracuse needs officers on the street to keep the community safe, so he will keep working to turn the tide.
“It’s still a very noble profession and a needed profession,” he said. “We don’t have the number of candidates that we used to have, so we have to do everything in our power to get qualified people to get prepared to be eligible to be hired by the police department.“
The department offers regular informational sessions as well as P-T training sessions for anyone who is interested in applying, you can find out more by visiting the Syracuse Police Department facebook page.