Abilene PD changes hiring process in hopes to fully staff with officers
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – As the city of Abilene grows and enters a transition period at the Abilene Police Department (APD), new Chief Ron Seratte has a plan for expansion. While law enforcements agencies nationwide are facing staffing shortages, Chief Seratte stresses that the safety of residents is a priority.
APD has a total of 196 patrol officers right now, but that number should be closer to 217. Recruiting officer, Cati Wolfe told KTAB/KRBC recruiting is more difficult than it used to be. Reminiscing on when she started, around 400 people would show up to recruitment events. However, she now has to use creative ways and the power of social media to help her in the hiring process.
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“We have changed in our hiring process. This year we allowed our applicants to do ride alongs with our current police officers,” Officer Wolfe said, hoping those experiences with incoming cadets would inspire them.
With any law enforcement application, there is a physical exam. Officer Wolfe said APD allows applicants to train when it comes to the rowing test.
“Our fitness test is a 2,000-meter row on a concept two row machine, and not everyone has been on a rower before. So, this year we are allowing applicants to practice. We are allowing them to use our row machines to try to help them prepare better to get through the process successfully,” explained Officer Wolfe.
Another way to attract more recruits is to allow them to tour the police department and talk to officers they see in the hallways, allowing them a glimpse of how their day-to-day workday will look. At this time, each police academy has about 10 to 20 recruits who are suited and ready to take on the task to protect Abilene residents.
Officer Wolfe highlighted the recruitment process timeline, “It’s almost a year until you’re out on your own. So, the academy is about 6 to 7 months, then they go to field training. So, they are on the street but they are with a training officer, and they do that for about four months. So when you add it all up, it’s almost like a full year from the day they start.”
Chief Seratte detailed these recruitment efforts can help current officers who are working overtime to fill the gaps to spend more time with their families. Another way they are doing this is by encouraging online reporting services for non-emergency concerns.
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“30 years of doing this, it happens. I’ve been there myself. You just try to do too much because you don’t want to let your partners down, the city you swore to protect, down. So, you come in and work, and it gets to a point where you need to take off and you have to maintain a healthy life,” added Chief Seratte.
APD is currently accepting applications for its next academy which starts in October. The application deadline closes Sunday, April 21.
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