Police Officer Hiring Rebounds in 2023, Marking First Increase Since 2020

A new survey reveals a significant uptick in police staffing levels, with small and medium agencies surpassing pre-pandemic numbers.

Police officer hiring saw a notable increase in 2023, the first since the decline prompted by the 2020 protests and the Defund the Police movement.
Small and medium-sized police agencies now report higher staffing levels than in January 2020, according to the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
Large police departments still face challenges, with staffing levels approximately 5% below January 2020 figures.
Resignations and retirements among officers declined in 2023, contributing to the overall increase in staffing.
Despite improvements, some experts caution that the law enforcement sector is not fully recovered, indicating ongoing challenges in recruitment and retention.