As some parts of the state and parts of the country see staffing shortages, the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) announced that 14 new recruits passed through its police academy.
“14 new officers just completed their training and graduated from the Chattanooga Police Academy! Graduation was hosted by Silverdale Baptist Church,” CPD said in a tweet. “These officers will now enter field training where they will ride with veteran officers. Welcome CPD Class 2022-1!”
14 new officers just completed their training and graduated from the Chattanooga Police Academy! Graduation was hosted by Silverdale Baptist Church. These officers will now enter field training where they will ride with veteran officers. Welcome CPD Class 2022-1! pic.twitter.com/mcKzLZ3UEW
— Chattanooga PD (@ChattanoogaPD) August 15, 2022
Meanwhile, cities in Tennessee are struggling to hire police officers.
Notably, in Nashville, retired police officers are filling in as the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) struggles to hire and retain officers.
“It’s a good way for the citizens to get in contact with an officer that don’t need immediate response out to their location so we can expedite our response to calls for service so the citizens aren’t having to wait, but also we can get these instances documented,” MNPD Sgt. Paul Stein said just last month.
“There was a great need due to manpower for the department to be able to better assist and expedite the services we provide to the citizens,” he said.
The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) is facing staffing shortages too, and with inflation on the rise, hiring new employees is becoming even more of a challenge.
KPD is down 55 employees, meaning that only 90 percent of its positions are filled.
No city has seen a greater downturn in police staff than Minneapolis, the epicenter of the riots surrounding the murder of George Floyd.
As The Minnesota Sun reported, the city was down more than 200 officers last year, and triaging some 911 calls because of the shortage.
“As a profession, we are demonized daily by many who have created a dangerous false narrative that is perpetuated by the media. Many careers were destroyed over the last year,” Sgt. Sherral Schmidt, former president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis said in a statement released in May 2021. “Furthermore, officers feel a lack of support throughout all levels of leadership, from our elected officials who have pushed a defund movement,”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Chattanooga Police Department” by Chattanooga Police Department.
