The bodies of two officers who died in a shootout in southeastern Kentucky returned home Friday. Along the way, first responders from across the state paid their respects.
Nationwide police recruitment struggles felt in Kentucky
and last updated 2021-05-27 19:16:49-04
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) â Law enforcement agencies across the nation are struggling to fill vacant positions, and Kentuckyâs departments are no different.
According to the Department of Justice, the United States has been experiencing a downward trend in applications and the number of officers sworn-in since 2013. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports after years of steady growth, the number of full-time sworn-in officers dropped by more than 23,000 between 2013 and 2016. Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the National Police Foundation revealed 86% of U.S. departments are reporting a staffing shortage.