Memphis conundrum

[HALL85]

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...w-amid-soaring-crime-memphis-cops-lowered-bar

Not just Memphis, but in many cities. Politicizing police work makes the career less attractive; more openings; lower the requirements bar; less experience; less training….this is what you get.

 

[Pirata]

I read that piece the other day.

This is what happens when you rely on Hollywood for your police training.

If it ends up the same for our military, we will be speaking Chinese or Russian in a few years.

"shoot him in the knee".

 

[cernjSHU]

That is a disturbing article. You just can’t throw standards out the window. That doesn’t work and that should be obvious.

I was part of the screening committee for alternative route candidates to enter the Police Academy for many years. There was three criteria fitness, written test and oral interview. It surprises me that a city would struggle getting candidates. We would have hundreds of applicants for maybe 20- 30 slots.

It all starts from the beginning, you have to have good people who want to be a good cop. Being a police officer is an honorable and dangerous profession. We can’t lower standards.

 

[HALL85]

That is a disturbing article. You just can’t throw standards out the window. That doesn’t work and that should be obvious.

I was part of the screening committee for alternative route candidates to enter the Police Academy for many years. There was three criteria fitness, written test and oral interview. It surprises me that a city would struggle getting candidates. We would have hundreds of applicants for maybe 20- 30 slots.

It all starts from the beginning, you have to have good people who want to be a good cop. Being a police officer is an honorable and dangerous profession. We can’t lower standards.

I don't know why they can't get any applicants for the positions, but it seems like they are desperate to fill a lot of openings. It's anecdotal, but I was interviewing a potiental VP of HR candidate last month (before this incident) who is currently living in Memphis and one of her and her husband's motivation to relocate was the increasing level of crime in the city.

And you can't demean the profession constantly in the press. NYC can't fill open positions fast enough either.

 

[cernjSHU]

And you can't demean the profession constantly in the press. NYC can't fill open positions fast enough either.

Problem with NYOD is that the pay is low and there is a requirement to live in NYC. That’s tough to do. If they were to open it up so you did not have to live in NYC, you would find more candidates.

I understand that you want cops living in the city you work. It makes sense. But in practice, there are tons of issues. For example, if your city is crime ridden, as a cop do you out your family at risk by living in that area where you are a target?

 

[HALL85]

Problem with NYOD is that the pay is low and there is a requirement to live in NYC. That’s tough to do. If they were to open it up so you did not have to live in NYC, you would find more candidates.

I understand that you want cops living in the city you work. It makes sense. But in practice, there are tons of issues. For example, if your city is crime ridden, as a cop do you out your family at risk by living in that area where you are a target?

Don't disagree with any of that. At the end of the day, you want qualified candidates, so living in the city seems like a significant rate limiting factor. The funny thing is that there are so many cities that are doing it right that get discounted or ignored.

 

[SHUMatt]

It has become difficult to fill open positions in police departments for many reasons:

• They are taking away or making officers pay for benefits after retirement. Having lifetime benefits was a balance for officers that did not make a ton of money while active.
• They are allowing officers to be sued for split second, life or death decisions where they used to be covered by law.
• The pay is good, not great.
• The media and politicians have made it acceptable to judge all officers on the acts of a few.
• Judges are allowing people to flip and burn police cars with little to no punishment when the acts are done during riots.
• Officers are not allowed to use the tools that could save their lives. Ex tasers, pepper spray, dogs ect
• Officers have been physically attacked/shot at an alarming rate or at least perceived to be.
• People look down on the profession. It is no longer glorified.

 

[SHUSA]

philly cop got shot twice in the stomach during a traffic stop. this is why cops shoot. they have to be ready for anything.