The impact of police–community relations: Recruitment and retention concerns of local police agencies

Abstract

Abstract Recently, there has been a growing movement across the USA to defund police. Additionally, police agencies have faced a rapidly declining application pool. Fewer applicants combined with retention issues have led to staffing concerns and cultural impacts within departments. This study examines the recruitment and retention problems faced by a local police agency in response to struggles within police–community relations and calls to defund police nationwide. Three series of interviews were conducted among new hires in training, new hires post training, and voluntary departures. Findings from this study indicate three primary categories of themes effecting both recruitment and retention: support, operational standards and compensation, and transparency. Based on the findings, several policy implications should be considered to improve recruitment and retention within the department. These include developing a comprehensive website for candidates and current officers, adjusting personnel shift rotation, overhauling the Field Training Programme, and working to improve support.