San Francisco’s police ranks are down more than 500, Lazar said, pointing to a recent staffing study. That lack of bodies is due in part to rising retirements and fewer new recruits applying and graduating from the academy.
Still, Lazar said the recruit pool is growing. Applications in 2021 tanked to 1,586, but by 2023, they rebounded to 3,008. Lazar said applications could approach 4,000 this year.
The department has done a number of things to help staunch the bleeding, from hiring retired officers to work part-time at the airport to hiring a public relations firm to better sell the idea of becoming a cop here to potential recruits. It also now offers a $5,000 signing bonus and six-figure starting pay.
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