Turnover for Yuma police a serious issue

Addressing pay is critical to officer retention

It’s tough to run a business when one is shortstaffed. The hours are long, the days are grueling, and every day feels like an uphill challenge.

Now, imagine if that business is the Yuma Police Department. The challenges and risks are much higher, both for existing officers and the community itself.

According to a recent Yuma Sun story, YPD has 176 authorized officer positions, but due to a variety of circumstances and openings, right now, there are only 147 full-duty officers.

And hanging over the department is the concern of losing more officers, due to the simple fact that once they get training in Yuma, the officers can easily move out of the area and make more money.

In a variety of industries, Yuma is a training market. People come here, gain experience and training, and move on.

For any business or agency, that’s frustrating. But for YPD, that perpetual cycle of turnover is dangerous. Seasoned officers bring a level of depth and maturity to the police force that is needed. They guide and mentor new officers, they know the community, and they use that knowledge to both solve and prevent crimes.

Chief John Lekan recently told the Yuma City Council that it’s come to a point when the department has to decide whether to monitor graffiti or let it go.

The chief noted that the agency can still respond to 911 calls. But what happens if this staff exodus continues?

Police are a critical component of public safety. We take for granted that police will always be available, with a simple call to 911.

But if there is a critical staffing shortage at the police department, the agency’s response to a problem in a timely manner is no longer a given.

That in turn opens up options for those with intent to do harm — and potentially get away with it.

Sometimes, simply being a visible police force is enough to deter a potential criminal from taking action. Having a presence at events, for example, might deter a crowd from becoming unruly. Patrolling a neighborhood known for gang activity might be enough to stop a gang member from tagging a wall or breaking into a house.

When staffing numbers drop, so too does that physical presence, and that’s a problem.

Addressing the pay issue isn’t going to be easy, but it’s a critical part of officer retention, and something that the city needs to take care of as quickly as possible.

What do you think, Yuma? What should the city do to help boost officer retention? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www.YumaSun.com, or send us a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.