According to the Police Executive Research Forum, from 2019 to 2021 resignations for officers are up 43%, and retirements are up 24%. As a result, police departments across the country are dealing with crippling personnel shortages. There are several reasons for this, but the challenge now is for these departments to find a way to swell their ranks so they can continue to provide a level of protection and service commensurate with the needs of their communities.
Show Them You Care About Their Safety
In this climate that can seem hostile to law enforcement, it is more important than ever that every officer feels valued and appreciated – and that starts from within the department. Online privacy protection is a way for police organizations to show their support for officers even after their shifts end.
Investments in body cams and body armor are made for protection. But what happens when a shift ends and officers head home to their families? As long as their home addresses can be found online from a quick Google search, they remain in danger – from the guy they pulled over for speeding that afternoon; or the brother of the man that was arrested for assault.
Being a cop is not the safest way to make a living – and statistics show it is becoming more dangerous with each passing year. In 2019, there were 149 police officers killed. That number more than doubled the following year to 373, and went up again in 2021 to 472 (Source: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund). Attacks at the homes of officers are also increasing in frequency, because these are more vulnerable targets.
Security That Won’t Strain Your Budget
Many departments began offering cash incentives such as hiring bonuses, relocation bonuses, even rent subsidies, as well as other perks to boost recruitment. But if that were effective, the numbers would not still be dropping.
Rather than allocate money to a bonus that will be gone in a week or a month, why not consider investing in privacy protection that protects those who serve and protect us 24/7, month after month, year after year. That is the type of recruitment incentive that will be truly appreciated by those considering a career in law enforcement.
With privacy protection, an officer’s home address and phone number are removed from websites, where they can easily be located and used to harass or target that officer. It also protects the officer’s family, as locating an address can be a first stop in locating where that officer’s spouse works, and where their children attend school.
How much does it cost? Less than you might think. We have special programs for police departments and organizations that offer a variety of ways to add this critical service. For those that wish to cover all of their force, privacy protection is available as a low-cost payroll deduction that officers will consider money well spent.
Being a cop is not the safest way to make a living – but whatever risks come with the job should stop the moment an officer removes the uniform and heads home. If a department wants to demonstrate how much it cares about the safety of its personnel, and that of their families, privacy protection is the way to do it.
360Civic has a privacy protection plan to fit your department’s needs.
