While the need for teachers and nurses is widely reported, there's another profession facing hiring difficulties: law enforcement.
- *80% of the Nation's 17,000 law enforcement agencies have police officer vacancies they cannot fill.
- *Nationally, it's estimated that the police officer vacancy rate could be as high as 17%.
- *Between 2002 and 2012, the nation will need to hire 37,000 new police officers in addition to attempting to fill the 30,000 vacancies that will occur due to attrition and retirements.
*Information from
Police Chief Magazine
In an effort to reach out to those interested in seeking a career in public safety (police officer and firefighter) a career expo will be held at the Colorado Mills Mall (14500 W. Colfax Avenue) on March 17 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Recruiters from 13 Jefferson County-area public safety agencies will be available to answer questions of people looking for a job now or considering this as a future career path.
Agencies participating in the event include:
- Arvada Police Department
- Lakewood Police Department
- Arvada Fire Protection District
- Colorado State Patrol
- Edgewater Police Department
- Golden Police Department
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
- Lakeside Police Department
- Littleton Police department
- Pleasant View Fire Department
- Westminster Fire Department
- Westminster Police Department
- Wheat Ridge Police Department
"We're reaching out to the community to spotlight our profession in the hopes that it will encourage people to consider a career in as a police officer or firefighter," said Commander
Gary Creager, of the Arvada Police Department. "Having thirteen emergency services represented in one location offers a great advantage to someone shopping for a career in this line of work."
Susan Medina is a public information officer for the Arvada Police Department.