Would You Pay More for Police?
Police departments across the coutnry are having trouble keeping officers and recruiting new ones. That means fewer police on the streets, longer response times, and lower numbers of arrests. What's behind the shortage? Money, for starters. "Police officers need to get paid more," says Peter Moskos, a police expert at John Jay College in New York. The problem is especially acute in cities, because suburbs can lure officers with higher pay. Even after a recent citywide raise, new officers in New York earn just $35,881. In nearby suburbs, they can earn up to $57,000 for less dangerous work. Another problem is that many young people who are willing to do dangerous jobs are entering the military instead of law enforcment. "We're at the point where police department are poaching officers from other forces," Moskos says. Ironically, skimping on law-enforcement budgets may lead to higher costs in the long: It can cost $100,000 or more to recruit and train a replacement officer after someone quits. In May, officers in Tuscon, Ariz., sparked controversy with their public requests for a raise, citing poor morale and a decline in public safety due to low staffs levels. Seattle recently agreed to a 25.6% pay increase to boost recruitment and retention rates. In Los Angeles, the city raised trash-collection fees to pay for nearly 1000 new police officers.
