By: Las Vegas Now Staff
More than 400 men and women turned out to test to become Metro police officers Tuesday. That's nearly twice the normal turnout.
“Do I think economic times has something to do with it? Sure, we are hiring when a lot of people are not hiring,” said Sheriff Douglas Gillespie. He says the starting salary and benefits are a good enticement during hard economic times.
New officers start at $54,000 a year. But Metro recruiters say only one out of every 10 candidates who showed up to test Tuesday will actually make it to the police academy six months from now. That's only 41 out of 411.
Sheriff Gillespie says crime across the valley is finally trending down again — and fewer people are dying on our roadways. So why do we need more money for more cops now?
Because Gillespie says to combat crime in a growing community — you have to prevent it — not just respond to it — and that requires a proactive approach to policing.
More than 400 job seekers packed Cashman Center — to find out if they have what it takes to become a Metro police officer. For UNLV graduate Matt Seccombe, a career in law enforcement isn't just a steady paycheck in an uncertain economy — it's a way of life in his family.
“My dad's been with LAPD for 23 years, my uncle for 35 years. It's something I grew up with and I have a lot of friends at Metro now, and they say nothing but positive things about it,” he said.
Seccombe is already among the 200 people expected to pass Tuesday's personal history questionnaire and two-hour civil service written exam. But recruiters say about 75-percent of these candidates will fail the physical fitness test, oral boards, psychiatric evaluations or background investigation that follow.
That leaves only about 45 recruits who'll actually make it to the 25-week long police academy. And that's why Metro is having to recruit all the time now.
“We're testing 10 times a year,” said Sgt. David Orr of Metro Recruiting.
Sheriff Gillespie says by July of next year — 2009 — Metro will have hired 600 new police officers using half of the funds provided in the sales tax increase approved by voters back in 2004.
“We're seeing crime down in our valley right now compared to this time last year,” he said.
But Gillespie says Metro's current ratio of 1.8 officers to every 1,000 permanent citizens still isn't enough to combat crime in our growing community.
“To be proactive — to stop cars, stop people, go into businesses, talk to citizens and drive through neighborhoods. I believe if we get up to two officers per 1000 citizens, then we'll be able to do that,” he said.
Metro says it will be putting the pedal to the medal on its recruiting efforts for the next few years at least.
For more information about the salary, benefits and qualifications needed to become a Metro officer, click here.
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