Police Academy Enrollment Suffering Lately
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CORINTH (CBSDFW) - Police departments from across North Texas all sent recruiters to North Central Texas College looking for some good men and women interested in become officers. Almost all departments say the task may sound simple but the work has become a challenge.
Carrollton Police Detective and Recruiter Jennifer Skertich said, "No one wants to go sign up for a career where you are getting so much negative attention."
She said the current anti-cop rhetoric and deadly attacks on officers recently have turned many people off from wanting to wear the badge. She says Carrollton PD has seen a drop in applicants of about half.
She added, "I really think it is just the negative attention that police are getting."
There were some potential applicants at the job fair who say their motivation to go into police work during tumultuous times is to work on improving community and police relationships.
Jordan Karch, and applicant said "What person in their right mind would want to just go get gunned down for no reason? I just want to make a difference."
It's a real risk that recruiters don't sugar coat.
Det. Skertich says they best they can do is tell potential applicants, "we provide you with the best training that we can to insure that you are at least equipped and ready," about the threats against officers on the streets.
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