By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally says the negative publicity police have received from last summer has hurt the recruiting and retention of officers.
Connally says the cry to “defund the police” has been devastating.
“The damage to the profession has been done,” Connally tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
The police chief says news coverage of high-profile police-citizen confrontations has been universally negative.
“We’ve defined a large group by the actions of a few which we always say is wrong in any other setting,” Connally says. “Largely, it’s been done in the media. There are fewer and fewer people that want to become police officers.”
The effect, according to Connally, is that it has become harder and harder for the St. Joseph department to fill vacancies. Connally claims the negative coverage of police of late has steered many away from the profession.
“We aren’t getting that many people that are applying. So, recruitment and retention is a big issue, which, I have to say, if you have somebody that you think would make a good police officer or is interested, please have them contact us, because we are recruiting,” Connally says with a chuckle. “We do need good, solid young officers to come on the department.”
Connally sees the problem has have lasting, wide ranging effects.
“So, as you get behind and you continue to get behind and you have trouble hiring people, the impact is exponential, based on the inability of just being able to hire someone and put them in that job.”