SJPD hits record vacancy rate for officers

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - It is no secret the San Jose Police Department has had difficulty recruiting and retaining officers in the midst of pay and pension negotiations, but the department's outlook is looking even bleaker according to new figures.

A new city audit finds the vacancy rate for officers is at an all-time high at 21 percent. While the audit suggests better hiring practices, city leaders said another solution is in the works.

It's a department that once had 50 vacancies to fill now it has nearly quadruple that amount. According to a new city audit, last year's police academy had more than 1,900 applicants, only 16 were hired. One of them lived in San Jose.

"We just think coming from the outside and looking at it," said San Jose City Auditor Sharon Erickson. "There's got to be more residents who are willing and able to be San Jose police officers."

Erickson said the problem lies in the department's recruiting efforts noting that despite having a $200,000 advertising budget, only half of that was spent last year. Meanwhile, billboards for other jurisdictions are popping up in San Jose.

"I don't know if it's shocking if Contra Costa County is trying to poach our wonderful residents but on the other hand it points out to me we need to be doing much more," said Erickson.

The audit additionally found that only three people at the department are dedicated to police hiring. She's recommending devoting more staff not to mention increasing and diversifying the applicant pool especially when it comes to female and minority officers. For example, 15 percent of the police force is Asian American, while the city's population is 32 percent Asian American.

"The big elephant in the room that's missing in the report is that's the fact the settlement framework that was agreed to has not been implemented," said James Gonzales of the San Jose Police Officers Association.

Gonzales is referring to the Measure B settlement ending a long-standing feud with the city over pay and pension benefits. However, it won't be implemented until the city's other unions finalize their agreements.

"If the Measure B settlement were put into place, would we be making these changes? Would we be looking at these recommendations and that's one thing we have to ask ourselves because we don't want to reduce our standards," said Assistant San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia.

The San Jose City Council was supposed to discuss the audit at Tuesday's city council meeting. The issue will now be heard on October 27.