CMPD Steps Up Recruiting with Officer Shortage

CHARLOTTE, NC — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department needs some help.

CMPD is battling rising violent crime. But it also faces an officer shortage; struggling to fill open positions, while facing looming retirements.

The department says it’s time to get aggressive.

“Our goal is to be the safest city in the free world,” says CMPD Captain David Robinson. “And we can do that better, more quickly and more efficiently with experienced police officers.”

CMPD wants to hire 60 experienced police officers in 2018.

The department needs the bodies. There are currently about 190 open positions. Annual recruiting brings in about 120 new officers. Mix in the looming retirements of more than 125 experienced officers in the next two years.

“Creates kind of a perfect storm for us to be more creative, more aggressive, more assertive in how we go after these folks,” says Robinson.

“We’re looking at ways, and this is a prime way, to bring people here who are already seasoned, who have a proven track record,” says Chief Kerr Putney.

This type of lateral recruitment could put officers on the street within six weeks of hire. But it comes with a cost. Cheif Putney says he has the funds in his budget to be competitive; to pay for experience.

Officer Shaun Ward came to CMPD from Asheville. He says the Queen City has so much to offer.

“The opportunities that Charlotte affords,” says Ward. “Not just the department, but the city itself.”

The push to hire experienced officers could also help with diversity. The department has been struggling in that area in this era of social media, with the backlash surrounding several officer involved shootings.

“We’ve seen almost a 60% reduction in our ability to attract African-Americans in particular,” says Putney. “So yeah, we’ve taken a hit. And then you lay on another 10-12% with Latinos. So yes, this environment hurts us.”

City Council has approved 125 additional officers for CMPD over the last two budgets. Those positions were originally requested almost 10 years ago,  to keep up with the city’s growth. They are not included in the current CMPD openings.