Hundreds of law enforcement officers needed across Green Country - KTUL

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Law enforcement agencies across Green Country are in critical need of help. Right now, there are hundreds of job openings.

Of course, law enforcement isn't the only industry experiencing a shortage, but it could have the greatest impact on public safety.

Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said his deputies cover 711 square miles and some nights there could be only four of them.

"We serve the largest population of all 77 counties and by that, I mean, we have densely populated rural areas and small municipalities within them," Walton said.

That creates a challenge for deputies and a danger for citizens.

"It certainly puts our response times to a disadvantage sometimes," Walton said.

When asked if Green Country should be concerned about the number of needed officers, Walton immediately answered yes.

"That should be alarming," Walton said.

It's not just happening in Rogers County, but all over Green Country.

According to Tulsa police, they're roughly 150 officers down.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office said it's "critically low" and short 30 certified deputies and more than 100 detention officers.

The spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said they would like to have more than a 1,000 troopers, but right now, they only have around 730 statewide.

Walton said this is a nationwide shortage that he attributes to leaders who don't back the blue.

"Why would you want to become a police officer in a community where you could become hunted in?" Walton said.

Walton said he feels that law enforcement has been put under a microscope. However, communities could be under pressure if vacancies don't fill up fast.

In the last year, Rogers County Sheriff's Office decided to use extra money to retain rather than recruit.

"We've got the people that we want to keep," Walton said. "Certainly, we want additional officers, but we do not want to lose. We're blessed to have a very low turnover rate."

Broken Arrow police announced Wednesday that applications are open through June 30 for the next cadet class.

Right now, BAPD said its authorized manpower is 158 officers and they currently have 151 officers and eight cadets in the academy, who will graduate in the fall.

source: https://ktul.com/news/local/hundreds-of-law-enforcement-officers-needed-across-green-country

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