Kirkland police: Qualified applicants needed to avoid officer shortage

The Kirkland Police Department has five positions to fill and 13 more sworn officers will become eligible for retirement in the spring. The baby boomer officers are retiring and another 24 officers will be eligible to retire by 2020.

The department says they recently lost their four best applicants to other police departments. (See links on how to apply at the bottom of this story.)

"There's a smaller candidate pool and now there's a lot of demand for those people so it's very competitive," said Sgt. Robert Saloum.

"Some people who would normally go into law enforcement aren't."

According to Kirkland police, fewer people are applying to be police officers. They say some people who might have opted for a career in law enforcement are interested in tech jobs instead. So instead of competing against other agencies they're also competing with companies like Microsoft and Google.

"Technology is a huge part of what we do, whether it is in the car, in the field or specialty assignments. All those people we might love to have that have that ability are going to the Microsofts or the Googles or the Amazons," explained Sgt. Saloum.

In 2008 the department hired 37 additional officers when it annexed Fin Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate. It was during the economic slump and they picked up officers who were let go from other departments forced to downsize. Kirkland police says they could cherry-pick the best applicants in the past, but now they could be facing a hiring crisis if they don't find qualified applicants.

Kirkland police say public perception of law enforcement with recent incidents in the news is not helping with recruiting numbers.

Right now there are more than 74 officer openings at police departments in King County.

Kirkland police said it offers competitive pay and is known to be one of the highest-paid departments in the state. According to Kirkland police, a starting officer makes a minimum of $70,000. A patrol officer can eventually reach more than $100,000.

The department recently changed patrol shifts from four 12-hours shifts; officers would work two day shifts followed by two night shifts and then have four days off. Starting this month officers will work four 10-hour shifts and have three days off. The days off do not rotate. The department says this is a much more desirable work schedule and they hope it will help attract recruits.

The department has 98 sworn officers; 60 of them are on patrol.

Kirkland police is making a public plea for applicants before there is a bigger shortage. They say low priority calls might have to wait longer, with fewer officers doing more work. They promise public safety will not be compromised.

"Any priority call that goes out is going to be handled immediately, like it always has," Sgt. Saloum.
said. "We're not looking at cutting service to people it is a staffing issue, that's why we're dealing with it so we don't get to the point where we're critical with staffing."

To apply, go to govjobstoday.com or publicsafetytesting.com. Follow this link to see the Kirkland police recruiting website.

Kirkland Lt. Mike Murray also can be reached at policerecruiting@kirklandwa.gov.

Cox Media Group