Police Officer Hiring Rises in 2023 After Years of Decline: Survey

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are reporting an increase in their ranks for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a new survey found that more sworn officers were hired in 2023 than in each of the previous four years. Police departments of all sizes—small, medium, and large—saw hiring increases, according to data from the 214 law enforcement agencies that responded to PERF, an independent research organization focusing on policing issues. Small agencies hired 38 percent more officers in 2023 than in 2019, while medium agencies hired 25 percent more, and large agencies hired about 5 percent more....