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Leawood Police Department feeling strain of nationwide police shortage

Posted at 10:18 PM, Apr 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-09 23:18:09-04

LEAWOOD, Kan. — The Leawood Police Department is facing a problem that many police agencies are struggling with nationwide: the department simply does not have enough officers.

Because of the shortage of officers, the department relies heavily on overtime to cover all of the necessary shifts. It has also eliminated its bike patrol.

"We had to scale back our activities," Capt. Brad Robbins said. "We don't have the manpower. We need to staff our patrol division first."

By the end of the year, Leawood police will have lost about one-fifth of its department in the last four years. There are just 45 people operational, not counting new hires at the police academy, officers on maternity and injury leave, and military duty.

Since 2016, 11 officers have retired from the Leawood Police Department, seven have left law enforcement entirely and three have moved to different agencies.

"You can't just put up a help wanted sign and find someone and have them start next week. If they've never done law enforcement before, you're looking at a nine-month process," Robbins said.

Leawood is not alone in its struggle to find officers.

Departments across the country are struggling to find enough qualified applicants for the jobs available. The Overland Park Police Department, for example, is currently short 14 officers. Kansas City policehave been working to recruit for years.

While money might play a part in the shortage, departments are also seeing less people transition from the military to patrol.

Robbins said skepticism of police has also grown following high-profile controversial incidents across the country.

"We are out there trying to reinvent ourselves constantly," he said. "Trying to reinvent how we sell ourselves because traditionally we didn't have to. Now you need to go out and show them that we are not just guys driving in cars and handing out speeding tickets. We're the ones that respond for heart attacks, we're the ones that get out and help the homeless."

To learn more about the Leawood Police Department, visit its website.