US (Washington Insider Magazine)— For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 death of George Floyd, police departments across the United States are seeing growth in their ranks. A recent survey by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) shows that more officers were hired in 2023 than in any of the previous four years, while resignations and retirements have declined.
Floyd’s death led to nationwide protests, intensifying scrutiny of law enforcement practices and sparking a wave of resignations and retirements. To meet staffing needs, some departments had to reassign officers from quality-of-life issues to respond to increased crime rates. However, PERF’s survey now suggests the trend is reversing, with departments slowly rebuilding their forces. Chuck Wexler, PERF’s executive director, noted this as a turning point for American policing, although he emphasized the profession “isn’t out of the woods yet.”
PERF’s survey results show that large departments still lag behind their 2020 staffing levels by over 5%, while smaller departments, especially those with fewer than 50 officers, continue to face higher resignation rates. Small departments have struggled to retain officers as larger departments offer incentives like signing bonuses and higher pay—benefits smaller agencies cannot always afford. At least a dozen small departments have even disbanded, forcing their municipalities to depend on state or county law enforcement.
To attract more applicants, many departments have eased hiring standards, including adjusting policies on tattoos and past financial issues, although Wexler cautions against lowering training standards. Some experts, such as Maria Haberfeld of John Jay College, worry that efforts to bolster numbers may overlook qualities essential for effective policing, such as emotional intelligence and maturity.
Overall, the survey noted a 20% drop in resignations from 2022 to 2023, though retirements varied by department size. Wexler attributed some of this improvement to a shift in public officials’ attitudes, who have moved away from discussions of defunding to recognizing the need for well-supported law enforcement. He believes this change reflects a broader “sea change among political leaders” as they address public safety needs and work to retain their police workforces.