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Local Police Look to Bolster Numbers at Get Hired Job Fair Local Police Bolster Numbers at Get Hired Job Fair

By William Hentschel

Silver text on a deep blue field "Police: City of Fulton"
© 2023 Will Hentschel

WILL HENTSCHEL: Thank you, guys. I’m here inside Destiny USA for the fifth annual Get Hired Job Fair. This is an opportunity for over 75 CNY employers to interview and hire new workers, and for those workers to really find and develop some connections with these employers.

Two tables you can see here are the Syracuse and Fulton City Police Departments. They’re here trying to ramp up recruitment numbers and for very, very good reasons.

While hundreds of people came through the doors to get new jobs here at Destiny USA, the same can’t be said for local police stations.

The police departments of Fulton and Syracuse both had tables here trying to get new sign-ons. And this is a result of low and declining numbers. As of this past June, Syracuse PD chief Joe Cecile said the unit was down over 70 officers. And this is not a unique problem for Syracuse or Fulton.

Fulton Police Department Lieutenant Brandon Lanning said his department is coming up with new and innovative ways to promote their job and add some new recruits.

LT. BRANDON LANNING: We’re trying to look outside the box. We’ve been looking to maybe get to some of the gyms, physical fitness is a big, important part of our job. So people that already have that sort of background, we’re interested in those types of people as well.

HENTSCHEL: Another Fulton officer said a general attitude of cynicism is also partially to blame for the decline in police officer numbers.

The Fulton and Syracuse PD departments will be here until six, you can sign on with them, or any of the other 75 employers here at Destiny USA.

Sam, Ben, back to you.

SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Over 75 CNY employers flooded into the Canyon Area at Destiny USA on Wednesday for the fifth annual Get Hired Job Fair. This event brings employers and job hunters together for a great opportunity to build a career. But other than local restaurants, small businesses, and local schools, two local police departments were also present, eager to sign on new recruits.

The Police Departments of Syracuse and Fulton both had stations set up, ready to bring on new individuals curious about working in the force, and it’s no wonder. In June of 2022, Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said that his department was down over 60 troopers compared to what is normal in the city.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York has the third most officers by state in the nation. California has the most, followed by Texas, followed by New York. Currently, around 50,000 individuals work in a police department in the Empire State, but that number could be skewed due to the massive number of employees working in New York City. According to the NYC website, around 36,000 people work for the NYPD.

“With all the cynicism, and skepticism that surrounds law enforcement, it’s really important to have people who are good representatives of what it means to be a police officer,” Fulton police officer Kaitlyn McCue said. “It’s a difficult time because there are not as many people looking to get into this field right now.”

Because of the challenges that face police recruiters, the Fulton police department is starting to get creative with where they recruit, and who they target.

“We’re trying to look outside the box,” Fulton Police Lieutenant Brandon Lanning said. “We’ve been looking to maybe get to some of the gyms; physical fitness is a big, important part of our job. So, people that already have that sort of background, we’re interested in those types of people as well.”

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