MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Police Department is looking for a few good men. According to city clerk Christine Wade, department staffing is currently down about 20-percent of their authorized strength of 72, and that number is likely to go higher.
“Right now, the Morgantown City Police Department is short 15 police officers,” Wade said,” And by December 31 possibly four more.”
Months of unrest, protests, riots and the Derek Chauvin trial have the entire police community reaching out to improve relations. Many career officers say they have never witnesses this level of deterioration of relationships between police and citizens.
“We don’t have to look very far in our news to know that we have law enforcement needs throughout the United States,” Wade said,” There’s a decrease in law enforcement recruiting.”
Applications for the position of entry-level police officer are being accepted in Morgantown through June 14. Chief of Police Eric Powell says the process includes a civil service test, a physical agility test, a polygraph, medical examinations and a background investigation.
“I’m trying at this time to make some adjustments to how we test- the frequency that we test,” Powell said,” So, maybe we can expedite that process.”
Deputy Mayor Rachel Fetty pushed back against social media traffic that blamed the shortage of officers on the work of the Special Committee on Community Policing and Citizen Review Board. That ordinance was passed and councilors voted unanimously to keep committee to possibly recruit the nine members of the future review board.
“I would just like to really clarify that we are so lucky to have the police department we have,” Fetty said,” We do live in a changing economy and many young folks are perhaps trying to make more money per hour than we pay the officers. So, I’m hopeful our salary review efforts that are happening in the city will offer some guidance on how to proceed.”
Despite external factors and some staffing issues, Powell contends his officers are effectively managing public safety.
“The job is still the same, it still requires the same level of training and professionalism that it always has,” Powell said,” They are doing the best they can under the circumstances and they should be commended for it.”
Powell hopes a big crowd of qualified applicants plan to take the civil service test scheduled for Saturday, June 19. There is a $25 examination fee.
“We had a pretty decent turnout at our last testing, so I’m encouraged by that,” Powell said,” So, I’ve seen a little bit of an uptick in our department.”