‘Unprecedented’ growth demands more officers, Polk law enforcement leaders say
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor compares his needs to that of a sports team.
“You want some new guys, some rookies and you want some veterans as well and you need some guys and gals in between. That’s kind of where we’re missing now,” said Chief Taylor.
Overtime pay rules to change soon: What to know
He recently told city commissioners during a retreat that his department needs 35 more officers in the next 5-6 years to keep up with growth that is outpacing expectations.
In a presentation during that retreat, Brian Rewis, Lakeland’s Director of Community & Economic Development, said the “unprecedented” amount of population growth by 2025 could exceed projections for 2030.
“The [city’s comprehensive] plan itself is solid. It’s the rate of growth that has strained that plan and strained our infrastructure and strained our ability to keep up,” he said.
The city’s data shows the population grew by 8.2% from April 2020 to April 2023.
“We have to have a safe community. In my view that’s the most important thing that we do,” said Chief Taylor.
Chief Taylor said his department hired 25 new officers last year but lost just as many to mainly retirement and career changes. Four left last year to work for other agencies.
St. Pete man sentenced for selling fentanyl that killed 2 people
This year, the department has hired 15 officers and lost four.
“When you’re paying truck drivers over $100,000 a year and they’re not getting shot at, that’s a pretty big incentive not to go be a police officer. You really have to have a calling or kind of a want to go do this,” he said.
Lakeland PD’s starting salary for officers is $60,000.
The department has focused on recruiting by hiring a group of officers from the New York Police Department, attending hiring fairs and loosening the department’s tattoo policy.
Are Florida shoppers legally required to stop for receipt checkers at store exits?
“It’s not just me looking for them. It’s the [Polk County] sheriff looking for them,” said Chief Taylor. “It’s the sheriff in Hillsborough County looking for them. It’s the Tampa Police Chief. We’re all looking for the same officers and we’re all trying to hire out of the same pool that’s about one inch deep.”
This week, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office swore in 59 new deputies, the largest group of new hires in the agency’s history.
“You can’t put 100,000 new people in the county without additional law enforcement officers,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Sheriff Judd said two years ago he went to commissioners and requested 25 new deputies a year for five years to keep up with growth.
Florida Attorney General accuses Starbucks of racial discrimination, calls for investigation
This year alone, he said he needs 125 new deputies because of growth, attrition, a new commitment to provide school resource officers at all Polk County public schools, and requests for service from private schools and cities.
As of July 1, the sheriff’s office is increasing starting salaries to $61,000.
“Right now, there are more positions for law enforcement officers in the state of Florida than there are law enforcement officers. If you don’t stay competitive with the Pinellas, Hillsborough, Orange, Osceola, Volusia market, then they’ll go work someplace else,” said Sheriff Judd.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
