By Anabel SosaLos Angeles TimesLOS ANGELES — Police staffing across California is at the lowest point in decades, with rural communities struggling the most in efforts to recruit officers, according to a new report from the state’s largest law enforcement organization. Compared with their urban counterparts, some rural areas have more acute shortages, leading to longer response times, according to the analysis. And while vacancies are felt across agencies, spending year after year has incrementally increased in city police departments, according to expenditure data from the California state controller’s office. A representative for the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office cited retirements and younger people’s lack of interest in law enforcement careers. —©2024 Los Angeles Times.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 01, 2024 15:26 UTC