'Protect the community': Police agencies join forces in search of officers

Western New York police agencies are joining forces to recruit officers. Like many agencies across the country, there's a struggle to find qualified candidates to fill their ranks. For Mike Sendlbeck, he's set on a new career move, joining the police force.

"I want to get more in touch with the community and see it from a different angle," Sendlbeck said. "Being somebody people can look up to."

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The next county-wide civil service exam for police officers will be held on September 28, with the application deadline just under a month away.

"[The hiring situation is] extremely dire, it's like everything else, you can't hire nurses, you can't hire teachers," said Amherst Police Department Safety Education Officer Trey Johnson.

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A Police Executive Research Forum survey showed that between 2020 and 2021, law enforcement resignation rates increased by 18% and retirement rates by 45%. On top of that, a study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police showed that 78% of nationwide agencies reported difficulty in recruiting qualified candidates.

"After COVID, law enforcement took a hit too, and we're looking for people to fill the spots," said Officer Jennifer Szymborski with the Cheektowaga Police Department. "It's still one of the best jobs out there. I've been doing it 19 years, and it's still the best job."

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Amherst Police invited prospective police officers from across the area to a career fair on Monday, to encourage people to apply for officer positions.

"The more people that take the exam, the better it is for all of us, all the agencies," said Johnson. "That's what this is about, we are trying to promote police jobs and tell them what it's about."