APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With retirement rates up and new recruits in short supply, Wisconsin recently set a new record low for the number of law enforcement officers employed.
But, that number could rise in coming years.
Due to high demand and wait lists, Fox Valley Technical College is adding a fourth law enforcement recruit academy in 2024.
Despite a police shortage, there’s no shortage of police academy students at Fox Valley Tech.
“Through my research, I found that Fox Valley Tech was basically the premier public safety training facility in the state of Wisconsin,” said Jason Seavey, an academy recruit.
Seavey is originally from Maine. He went through simulation training on Tuesday.
“I started my career there but to continue my career here,” said Seavey. “I needed to go through the academy here in the state of Wisconsin.”
He was a part time police officer, but then, he and his wife moved to Wisconsin to be closer to family.
“Now that Wisconsin is my community, I felt it was important to continue that service here,” said Seavey.
According to Wisconsin’s Department of Justice, the state had fewer than 13,400 police officers in 2022, setting a new record low.
That number is down from more than 13,500 counted in 2021.
“We’re in week eleven, and seven agencies have come in prior to the start of class and say, ‘hey, please come and work for us,’ so the demand is high,” said Tim Hufschmid, director at FVTC’s Law Enforcement Academy.
Hufschmid says its June academy is full with 32 recruits and 16 agencies on the waitlist. The fall academy is full with 32 recruits and two agencies on the waitlist.
“Currently we have five open positions that resulted from our recent public safety referendum that passed here in Grand Chute,” said Community Resource Officer Dylan Davis.
Davis says having those positions filled would help reduce call times.
“We’re one of the biggest towns in the state of Wisconsin and our population is increasing a lot over the years,” said Davis.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects overall employment of police is projected to grow 3% from 2021 to 2031.
Even though that’s slower than some occupations, about 68,500 openings for police jobs are projected each year.
The Appleton Police Department launched a recruiting effort last summer.
“With this latest hiring process, we actually have zero openings for the Appleton Police Department,” said Lieutenant Meghan Cash.
Cash says APD has five officers part of FVTC’s current recruit academy.
“It’s amazing to see that Fox Valley Tech is making the investment in our community here, because a lot of those officers are going to stay here,” said Cash.
The record high for the number of police officers in Wisconsin is nearly 14,400 in 2008, when the DOJ started tracking the numbers.
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