Recruiting for Quality and Diversity

Beginning in the 1990s, some law enforcement agencies experienced decreasing numbers of applicants, largely felt to be due to the growing competition of the job market and the less-than-creative and stagnant recruiting strategies of law enforcement agencies. Although the bleak national financial picture of the first two decades of the 21st century may have increased the applicant pools again, negative media coverage, inflexible working schedules, long hours, and perceived dangers and hardships of the profession continue to impact the quality and diversity of law enforcement applicants and recruits. This entry examines the issues associated with recruiting quality and diverse persons for law enforcement positions and how community policing further affects these issues and necessitates additional requirements for quality and diversity in recruiting.