By Suzie Ziegler
WASHINGTON — Police in the nation’s capital are trying to recruit an unconventional target audience: New York City foodies, gamers, techies and influencers.
According to WTOP, recruitment posters for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department were spotted this month in New York City subways. The posters read, ‘Join Us: Foodies, Gamers, Techies and Influencers.’ There’s also a QR code that takes prospective recruits to the MPD’s hiring page. It left many subway riders wondering, why?
According to the report, MPD spokesperson Sean Hickman says New York City could be fertile ground for recruiting. The MPD hires recruit classes monthly, unlike the NYPD recruits who might wait years before they’re hired.
“Because of this, many people from New York and New Jersey join our department,” Hickman told WTOP. “In January, we launched our NYC system-wide subway ad campaign. We want to attract people who want to make a difference in the community now — not wait on a list for a few years.”
As for the foodies and influencers, Hickman says the MPD is looking to reach younger generations.
“Our new recruitment campaign is seeking to reach Millennials, Generation Z members, veterans and second-degree candidates, or those who may have never considered a career in law enforcement but have the soft skills needed to be good police officers. These skills include: empathy, conflict resolution, strong communication skills and more. We want people to see themselves through our recruitment campaign and encourage them to apply,” Hickman said.
According to Hickman, ridership on the NYC subway remains high, making it a good place to recruit.
“At the end of the day, we want to hire the best candidates to be police officers in the nation’s capital — and that requires us to embrace new marketing strategies,” Hickman said.
NEXT: What young cops want (and what police leaders can do about it)