Turnover has police shopping for new cops

Mike Grant, Washington Times-Herald, Ind.
·3 min read

Jan. 27—Area police departments are putting out the help wanted sign. It seems every agency from the Indiana State Police down to local police agencies are struggling to keep their ranks filled.

"I think it is pretty common right now. I believe ISP is down 200 officers. They are looking. Whenever we talk with other agencies they seem to be in the same situation," said Washington Assistant Police Chief Dan Christie. "I know Indianapolis is down officers, Bloomington is down officers. It is just that it is difficult to find quality applicants and people that want to do this kind of work."

The Washington Police Department has had two veteran officers leave this month. Captain Greg Dietsch stepped down after 16 years with WPD and Sergeant Eric Eichmiller left after 24 years with the department.

"They left for completely different reasons, nothing to do with the department itself. Eric took another position. He had been here long enough that he had locked in his pension and was able to seek another job," said Christie. "Greg's was a medical retirement."

WPD was already short of a full staff before the most recent announcements of officers leaving. Christie says the city has been in the hiring process and is getting close to bringing in some replacements.

"Quite a few in the last year left," he said. "We have some officers that have been here 20 years that have locked in their pension, then left. And we have had some leave and take better paying jobs. We actually are in the process of hiring three new officers. Now, with Eric leaving we will be looking for yet another officer."

The Daviess County Sheriff's Department is at full staff, but that could change.

"I am OK today, but that could change any minute," said Daviess County Sheriff Gary Allison. "I have my last one at the academy right now."

But in the police business it is not unheard of for officers to go from one department to another, looking for a better opportunity.

"I have one that may leave and go to work for the city," said Allison. "I don't know if he has made up his mind. If he does then I will have to fill that spot."

Finding potential officers though has become increasingly difficult. Even with pay raises in recent years, the combination of money and responsibility seems to be limiting the number of people willing to even consider law enforcement.

"There is more money to be had out there," said Allison. "And it comes with a lot fewer hassles."

Currently, the sheriff's department is beginning to take names of people who might want to get on the list to be the next to be hired.

"We need to redo our pool," said Allison. "We are going to go to work on that soon. It never ends."

On Friday, Martin County held an open house to try and fill some of its vacancies, and Allison says other neighboring sheriffs are also trying to keep deputies on the road.

"I think Martin County is low on staff. Pike County is looking for people. Knox County just brought a couple on. State police are looking troopers because a lot of their officers are just reaching retirement age," said Allison.

Some of those former troopers though have moved over and become sheriff's in southern Indiana. They include the sheriffs in Perry, Orange, Lawrence and Monroe counties.

"It is just hard to find the right people. No one seems to want to be a policeman anymore," said Allison. "We just have to ride the waves and see what happens."