By Bill Carey
Police1
SAN DIEGO — In an effort to correct a widespread staffing shortage, the San Diego Police Department has sent a letter to former officers encouraging them to work again for the department.
In early April, a letter was reportedly sent to former officers, asking them to “consider again being part of the team,” and to “be a part of the police department that is dedicated to serving and collaborating with our community,” NBC San Diego reported.
The letter states that incentives to return include a 5% pay increase in 2023 and 2024, COVID vaccines are not required, and opportunities are available in K-9, SWAT and other specialized assignments.
The department lost 241 officers last fiscal year, a 51% increase from the year prior. A total of 138 officers have already left this year.
Jared Wilson, president of the San Diego Police Officer’s Association, told NBC San Diego that the main reason officers are leaving is due to low morale and a lack of support from top leadership.
“You need to reach out to the people who left the profession and ask them why they left. And ask them what conditions would change to entice them to come back,” Paul Cappitelli, a retired sheriff’s department captain and Police1 contributor, said. “My sense is they are not going to have a ground swell of people that are going to say, ‘Great, I am going to come back for an extra 5% or 10%.’”