Only 6 People Showed Up To Minneapolis Police Recruitment Seminar

The city of Minneapolis has a problem on its hands that continues to get worse. Following George Floyd's killing in 2020, many officers left the police department. In fact, the department lost a third of its police force, and crime has risen sharply. Violent crimes in Minnesota were on the uptick even before 2020.

According to the Associated Press via ABC News, homicides almost doubled from 2019 to 2021, aggravated assaults increased by a third, and carjackings are becoming a real problem in the city. Most major cities saw a crime increase during the pandemic. The aftermath of the George Floyd death and subsequent riots and fires caused many Minneapolis police officers to quit, citing post-traumatic stress.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey proposed in August a plan to increase police funding in an effort to raise officer numbers to 800 by 2025. However, not many people are applying for a job as an officer in the city. In 2019, 292 people applied to be police officers in Minneapolis. In 2022, only 57 people applied.

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A hiring seminar took place at the Minneapolis Police Academy, and only 6 people attended. Officers and city officials explained what it was like to be a cop. They highlighted the different career paths available and laid out the benefits.

There have been similar problems with the recruitment of officers across the country. Last year Duluth Police Union talked about how hard it was to recruit officers.

Fewer people want to become police officers. The fewer people that apply, means the fewer people they can hire.

Resignations of police officers across the U.S. & Canada jumped by 43%. 24% of officers also retired. The hiring rate fell by 4%, so you can see just how dire the situation is.

The crime in the Twin Cities metro area continues to climb. Crime has also risen in greater Minnesota. MPR reported that statewide violent crimes are up 21%. Rape, assault, and violent crimes in rural areas are also up 16%.

Protests in 2020 called for defunding the Minneapolis Police Department. The City Council approved dismantling the department and creating a "public-health oriented" Department of Public Safety. However, Minneapolis voters rejected the measure in the 2021 election. 

Residents in the city actually sued Minneapolis for not having the minimum number of officers required by the city's charter.