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 The Arkansas State Police recently invited the public to drop in for "town hall style" meetings at its offices across the state in the hopes of convincing some of them to become troopers.
During a dozen meetings at local offices, state police recruiters and troopers explained what troopers do and answered the questions asked by prospective recruits. At the meetings, troopers also talked about the calling to public service that compels people to join the agency, according to Maj. Kathy Sparks, the state police commander over administrative services. "It's not just a matter of accepting an application," Sparks told the Associated Press in a recent interview.
"We have to sell our department to people who really don't know us." Like other agencies, the Arkansas State Police is facing increased competition for recruits from the military and federal law enforcement agencies after Sept. 11, 2001. Police departments across the country are having to work harder to find qualified applicants, according to Jason Abend, director of the National Law Enforcement Recruiters Association in Arlington, Virginia.
Retiring baby boomers have added to the recruitment crisis, and with a relatively stable economy, fewer people in civilian jobs are looking to change careers, Abend said. Just recently, the Little Rock Police Department wrapped up its latest recruitment effort. That involved a $40,000 marketing campaign that included billboards, radio and television commercials and advertisements in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as well as Spanish language newspapers.
The campaign drew more than 400 applicants from whom the department will select 30 new officers who will begin training in April, Little Rock police spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings said. "It's become very competitive. If you are a candidate to be a police officer, you can just about go any place you want to," he added.
During the 2007 session, the state Legislature authorized the state police to hire an additional 50 officers, and it increased the starting salary for troopers from $28,000 to $ 36,000. The agency expects 50 new troopers to complete their training in July, filling the first 25 new positions as well as replacing people who left the agency.
The applicants that sign up to be troopers must pass several tests, including a written exam, a physical fitness test, a psychological examination, a background investigation and a polygraph. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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