More Troops = Fewer Cops?

posted by Josh Goodman

The news that the Army and Marine Corps are requesting permanent increases in personnel doesn't sound like the type of thing that would impact state and local governments -- unless you realize that every federal decision impacts states and localities.

In this case, the accompanying announcement that the Army wants to end limitations on involuntary call-ups for National Guard members is sure to be of interest to governors. But, for local governments, the biggest impact of a larger military could be a corresponding drop in aspiring police officers.

Over the past year, it's become increasingly clear that many municipalities are facing a crisis in police recruitment. There are plenty of factors involved -- from low unemployment to changes in the workforce -- but one of the reasons is more and more competition from the armed services, which themselves are pressed for manpower.

That's because cops and soldiers are similar folks. Both groups are disproportionately young, male, willing to accept dangerous careers and comfortable using firearms. As a result, if the military ups benefits to try to recruit more troops, police forces may have no choice but to follow suit.

Comments

[Tom Gee]

Add to this that many police officers are in the reserves and when they are called up to active duty they deplete the local police force. Larger departments are better able to handle this than smaller PD's. I base this on my 30 years experience in law enforcement.

[Richard Wilson]

Would this be a suit of arms?

[Deborah Johnson]

Evidently Washington State Patrol is responding to this phenomenon, as well; recently it was announced that they are considering dropping the minimum age to 19-1/2 to increase recruitment. Wearing my "citizen" hat I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that; then again, it's the same age as a lot of folks toting weapons on our behalf in foreign lands.

[Josh]

Deborah, you actually may be lucky if that's all they're doing because a Washington Post article earlier this year included this line: "Elsewhere, departments have dropped their zero-tolerance policy on drug use and past gang association..."
Tom, that's a really good point and one I hadn't considered (and Richard, your puns are always appreciated).

[Tom Gee]

19 1/2 is way too young and in my opinion so is 21 (I would prefer 25). I say this because policing a free society is very complex and requires a great deal of maturity and good judgment (things which are hard to train "in to" a young recruit in the academy).