Talk to anyone in Morgan Hill about our police department and the conversation usually focuses in on the need for more police officers. Even when new positions are created and funded, finding people to fill them is a greater challenge. If you are a student thinking about a career, think about one in law enforcement.
Part of the problem is competition. According to one estimate, there are 9,000 police vacancies across the state of California. Departments in small cities like Morgan Hill are looking, as are larger departments in San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, not to mention the California Highway Patrol which has almost 500 open jobs.
In an article last summer, Police Chief Magazine reported on recruiting issues and noted that despite the high demand for new officers, police academy programs graduated only 2,500 people. Requirements to become a police officer vary by community, but generally require a high school diploma, graduation from a certified police office training program, and many departments require at least some college. That is before applicants are tested by individual departments, subjected to an intense background check, and survive multiple interviews. Bruce Cumming, the Chief of Police here in Morgan Hill, estimates that only two candidates out of every 50 will successfully make it through the process.
Today, a police officer position in a city like Morgan Hill earns a good salary, excellent vacation, sick leave, medical and retirement benefits, as well as promotion opportunities and a pension plan unequaled in the private sector. Morgan Hill, like many cities, also offers a housing allowance to help new officers become a true part of their new community.
Obviously, a department like Morgan Hill’s isn’t for everyone. Some applicants are looking for the action in a larger city or the opportunity to focus their skills on a specialty, and others for the aura of the Highway Patrol. Despite all that, we have been fortunate in Morgan Hill to attract highly skilled officers who appreciate the uniqueness of our community and the ability to touch many different aspects of a police officer’s job.
In addition to its officer recruitment programs, Morgan Hill has two vibrant programs for people interested in police work. For high school students, there is the Police Explorers. The Explorers are a frequent presence at events like the Taste of Morgan Hill. The program gives these volunteers broad exposure to police work, not to mention educating them about obeying the law and acting responsibly. The city also has a Police Cadet program, which provides paid positions to those preparing for a career in law enforcement.
No one gets rich being a cop, but given the vagaries and uncertainties of private sector employment in Silicon Valley, a career in law enforcement is worth serious consideration.
David Cohen, a member of this newspaper’s editorial board, is a corporate speechwriter. He also serves as president of the Community Law Enforcement Foundation of Morgan Hill, a grassroots organization in support of the Morgan Hill Police Department.
David Cohen, a member of this newspaper’s editorial board, is a corporate speechwriter. He also serves as president of the Community Law Enforcement Foundation of Morgan Hill, a grassroots organization in support of the Morgan Hill Police Department. Reach him at
da*********@hd*.com
