By Maureen Meehan, Benzinga on January 7, 2023

The shortage of sworn law enforcement officers throughout the country is widespread. It’s especially critical in Portland, Oregon and it’s not a budget issue. Actually, there’s plenty of money to go around; the Police Bureau’s 2022 budget is hefty enough ($249 million) to hire recruits at $65,000, including a $5,000 starting bonus. There just aren’t enough takers.

Though the police shortage varies from state to state, the trend is clear: Law enforcement agencies are struggling to fill their ranks. A 2021 Statista report confirmed that the country’s 660,288 full-time police officers had shrunk by nearly 50,000 from 2013. The National Police Support Fund calls the recruit shortage “deep and complex.”

– Read the entire article at Benzinga.