With the departments largest expense being personnel, is that line cutting sworn officers?
There’s no absolutes right now. I’m unaware of any decision to lay off sworn police officers at all. Is there still a recruitment/retention crisis? No. Nobody’s hiring. There’s nowhere to go. Where we were getting small numbers of 50 to 60 officers applying, we’re getting several hundred officers apply every time. There’s no limit to the number of officers I could hire if I had the money to be able to do that. You’re at the top of a large police department, but do you have further career aspirations? Maybe a run for mayor like another former chief? (laughing) You know how those rumors get started! It’s a kiss of death. Let me tell you, I’ve never been more involved or happier in a job, and I’ve been in three different cities now. I think we’re at a critical juncture in this department. It’s going to be a tough 18 months to two years and the department’s going to need someone to manage that. I have absolutely no intention of going somewhere else. I believe this will be the last job in l
