Montgomery County data shows ongoing major challenges with police staffing, recruitment

[Sunrise]

County data shows ongoing major challenges with police staffing, recruitment​

Check out this Report (.PDF): https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/cm/2023/20230213/20230213_PS4.pdf

Staffing Summary
• Resignations and retirements increased 64% in 2022.
• The sworn vacancy rate is 10%, with 129 vacancies out of 1,281 authorized positions.
• The civilian professional staff vacancy rate is 18%, with 136 vacancies out of 763 authorized positions.
• More than 30% of sworn officers are eligible for some type of retirement.
• The 911 Emergency Communication Center (ECC) has a 36% vacancy rate.
• Recruitment applications have fallen 38% since 2017 and continues to lag behind staffing needs.
• There are operational impacts in several areas due to understaffing.

There’s so much bad news for MoCo PD (and residents) in this Report that it’s astounding.

For FY23, MCPD has an authorized sworn complement of 1,281 officers. This number reflects 1.2 officers per 1,000 residents. It is significantly lower than the average 2.8 officers per capita reported for counties, and the 2.5 officers per capita reported for suburban areas.

However, as you can see, the MoCo Police Department isn’t even close to its authorized staffing level on which this is based, so this ratio disparity vs other areas is even greater.

If the Department cannot improve hiring and retention rates, it faces a staffing shortage of up to 229 positions by the end of calendar 2025.

Look at the Average Call Response Time now… 9.2 Minutes, up 44 seconds from last year. JFC…

 

[slsc98]

We don’t want to think about all ^that.^
Good thing for us it’s Stoopid Bowl Sunday!

 

[motorcoachdoug]

All the more reason to get your permit and you be the one responsible for your own safety of yourself and your own family as the police have no duty to protect you unless you have a "special" relationship with them.

 

[spoon059]

And upper management and the county council have zero urgency about it.

Sent from my SM-N970U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Trepang]

Who in their right mind would choose to start a career in law enforcement in today's environment nor do I blame those that are retiring as soon as possible.

My neighbor's kid had 5 years on the job and just quit a local county sheriff's office. Said he was tired of dealing with people who have no respect for themselves or others.

 

[teratos]

And upper management and the county council have zero urgency about it.

Is it because they hate the police?

I’m sure they all have “choose civility” stickers on their hybrids, not understanding that people are NOT civil. People are hyenas.

 

[rrrenyer071]

In today’s climate I can totally understand current LE are retiring and why the hell would anyone want to be a cop in today’s environment? It’s a lose lose situation.

 

[[Kev308]]

In calendar 2021, the Department lost 90 officers - from 33 resignations, 55 retirements, one termination, and one death. In calendar 2022, that increased to 144, with 89 resignations and 55 retirements. MCPD’s sworn turnover rate increased from about 7% in 2021 to about 12% in 2022.

For those that prefer hard numbers instead of statistics.

I remember about 15 years ago that my brother did a ride along and the officer told him that the night duty was two officers for the entire White Oak area. Not sure how big the patrol area extended, but I was shocked at how low the number was. That being said it seemed to work well for the time. Crime wasn't crazy, but there has definitely been a cultural shift that people now have no respect for officers or their fellow man.

 

[traveller]

Based on the numbers it doesn't seem to be a retirement issue but rather an issue of people resigning. Based on the sample of cops around me, that seems to be mostly related to a better job opening up. Around DC that is often fed. Why deal with drunks and abusers if you can get a paycheck at the 'Bureau of Printing and Engraving SWAT' or the 'Bureau of Misc Federal Services Inspector General'.

 

[Uncle Duke]

They've outsmarted themselves. Like the rest of these liberal cesspools.

 

[Tebonski]

Maybe the Montgomery police are leaving to go work for Baltimore City Police and Memphis Police?

 

[FFBWMD]

You reap what you sow! Screw the libtards in Montgomery county! You created this, now live with it!

 

[44man]

I believe MOCO
hates the police as much as they do legal ccw’ers so why would any new officers want to fill spots there?

Heck, soon the liberal utopia of MOCO will be crime free anyway, correct?

 

[whistlersmother]

You reap what you sow! Screw the libtards in Montgomery county! You created this, now live with it!

I'm sure the rich in Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Potomac won't experience any reduction in police services.

It'll be all the up-county folks that will never see another responding officer again.

 

[Jim12]

I expect that it's much more lucrative and socially acceptable to be a private armed bodyguard for a politician or high tech executive, than it is to be a sworn police officer to protect the public from the other criminals.

There goes the nation.

 

[mpollan1]

You reap what you sow! Screw the libtards in Montgomery county! You created this, now live with it!

Yeah well there are quite a few that did not create it.

Edit: Somewhat unfortunately, the only way out is to get out.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Yeah well there are quite a few that did not create it.

Edit: Somewhat unfortunately, the only way out is to get out.

Sadly, we're increasingly running out of places to go.

Cities, then counties, then whole states....the swaths of "no go" get larger and larger.

 

[FFBWMD]

Yeah well there are quite a few that did not create it.

Edit: Somewhat unfortunately, the only way out is to get out.

Sorry for you, my family moved out of Montgomery co. in 1980 and are so glad they did. Only way out is to move or start taking back control of the county thru elections..LOL

 

[RFBfromDE]

I'm sure the rich in Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Potomac won't experience any reduction in police services.

It'll be all the up-county folks that will never see another responding officer again.

CC has it’s own PD so….

 

[whistlersmother]

CC has it’s own PD so….

Yep. Being rich has its privileges, including telling the little people to go suck it up.