NCJ Number
219426
Date Published
June 1989
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the proceedings of a 3-day symposium for California chief law enforcement executives on the recruitment of qualified applicants to become California peace officers.
Abstract
The format of the symposium consisted of speakers and discussion groups. The symposium's objective was to produce a consensus among the participants about statewide actions that would address the declining availability of qualified applicants for law enforcement positions. After summarizing the activities for each day of the symposium, the report lists the 15 issues/problems addressed in the discussion groups, along with recommendations for addressing them. Some of the issues/problems addressed were how to speed up the hiring process, how to remove or reduce bureaucratic barriers to an efficient hiring process, how to expand the pool of qualified candidates, ways to finance effective recruitment, how to effectively market a career in law enforcement, and how to address an applicant's use of substances. Other topics addressed were competition with the private sector and other law enforcement agencies, improving the public perceptions of law enforcement officers, and what could be done to reduce the negative aspects of law enforcement job tasks. In addition to recommendations for addressing the 15 recruitment issues/problems, 5 recommendations are offered for future action by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) regarding recruitment courses for law enforcement executives, statewide recruitment advertising for qualified candidates, standardized testing of candidates, and a 1-year followup for this symposium. The symposium was held from May 31 to June 2, 1989. Appended listing of symposium participants, the symposium schedule, and summaries of presentations