YPD struggles to fill open jobs
Crime figures set to stay the same; officers continue strong community involvement
Being a police officer is definitely a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. The problem is, according to Yuma Chief of Police John Lekan, what happens when no one wants to do the job anymore?
Lekan said the Yuma Police Department is having a tough time staffing its departments and recruiting new officers, which he thinks will be the biggest problem facing his agency in the coming year.
Law enforcement, he said, is becoming less of a desirable career choice. Not only is it a dangerous job, but police officers work around the clock, on weekends, and are often away from family and friends during holidays, which makes the lifestyle difficult for a lot of people.
But there are other factors as well. The economy has also improved, so there are more jobs available. Law enforcement has also been heavily criticized in the media the past two to three years over instances of police misconduct, which has resulted in distrust being at an all-time high.
Lekan said there was a time when his department would easily receive 300 to 400 applications whenever there was an opening for a police officer. Now, he said, they are lucky to get between 40 and 50.
“Even though we are still a noble profession, it is being viewed differently now by people coming into the workplace, who are thinking maybe this is not the type of job for them,” Lekan said. “There is also a lot of competition out there to get that qualified person who would enter this
profession.”
It’s become so bad, according to Lekan, that the Arizona Western College Police Academy was not able to put on a class this semester due to a lack of applicants. Also, there are currently 10 open officer positions on the Yuma police force. Lekan said because it takes anywhere between nine months and a year to fully train an officer, it is likely there will be more openings before those are filled.
One way the police department is trying to address these staff shortages is by changing the way it recruits, specifically by emphasizing some of the other less known aspects of the job such as neighborhood policing, community involvement and the increasing use of technology.
The current generation of workers, Lekan explained, is also looking for more balance and flexibility in their “work-life.” Although many are qualified, they seem to be interested in other opportunities that aren’t as stressful and are less challenging.
Having recently visited two officers who were injured while making an arrest, Lekan said one of the biggest surprises he has seen in the past year is the increase in violence against officers.
“It’s is going beyond mere resisting. It has gotten to the point where we are getting unprovoked attacks on our officers that are coming out of nowhere,” Lekan said. “We are watching it carefully. It hasn’t been an isolated incident. We are seeing it happen more often now.”
Despite these situations, Lekan said he believes the Yuma Police Department still has the community’s support, adding it is something he takes great pride in.
“We are just having more incidents by those few people who chose not to obey the rules, regulations, and laws, and they are less inclined to accept the fact they have to be held accountable for their actions,” Lekan said.
As for community engagement success, it was a good year for Yuma police. The department continued with its Coffee with a Cop program, its Citizens’ Academy and National Night Out — reaching out to the community trying to get them to work closer with officers.
Based on the most current statistics, which are from 2015 through 2016, Lekan said he anticipates the crime figures are going to remain relatively unchanged this past year, with an increase in some areas and a decrease in others.
“Anytime time I see the overall crime statistics stay the same, and not increase, I consider that a success,” Lekan said. “The numbers could increase slightly, but it will be a while before those numbers are available.”
Drug offenses are expected to surpass those of last year, while vehicle burglaries are also on the rise. Meanwhile there has been a decrease in business burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. Robberies are expected to remain about the same while aggravated assaults are likely to increase.
Lekan explained it seems as though ‘crimes of opportunities’ are predominately responsible for the categories in which crime has increased. For example, shoplifting is still one of the most common calls officers respond to.
“The opportunities are there due to the number of retails stores we have here,” Lekan said. “And it is related to your drug use and addictive type of behavior.”
Another area of success Yuma police experienced last year was in its False Alarm Program. Lekan said by the end of the year he anticipates officers will have responded to between 800 and 900 fewer activations, which would amount to about a 25 percent decrease.
Lekan said his biggest disappointment last year was that he was unable to find the money in the budget to purchase body cameras for his officers. He added that he still believes it is something the department needs and will continue trying to find a revenue source for them.
“When you talk about the things that make us a better agency, and the community safer, I still say the body cameras would have been a critical addition to our department,” Lekan said.
Another concern Lekan expressed was in the significant growth of the community, which now has an estimated population of about 100,000. He explained that, due to the economy improving, the community is showing signs of growth and that puts a strain on the department in terms of resources, funding and manpower.
He also said the department is still making progress in replacing its fleet of vehicles — which was in shambles a few years ago — and will continue to do so in the coming year.
The biggest surprise, however, has been the use of social media, with Lekan saying it has been a great tool for solving crimes. He said it has allowed the department to provide information to public much more quickly, and the public’s response has been phenomenal.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.