Overview

• 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.