A California city offered a ,000 bonus to new cops. These departments are trying to keep up

California cities are struggling to hire police in a tight labor market after the COVID pandemic. Some are raising by double digits and offering ey...

September 13, 2023
8:42 AM

California cities are struggling to hire police in a tight labor market after the COVID pandemic. Some are raising by double digits and offering eye-catching bonuses ALAMEDA, Calif. — Just five months ago, Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi faced a dire staffing crisis. Almost one third of the 88 sworn positions in his department were vacant, giving him 24 jobs to fill as quickly as possible. He wasn't alone in that predicament. Many California police departments have reported serious hiring challenges in a persistently tight labor market over the past several years.

Anabel Sosa