Colo. PD Facing Rapid Loss of Officers, Dire Need of OT
Sept. 17, 2021
“It’s extremely concerning,” said Aurora's police chief about the department's dramatic staffing shortage.
A Colorado police department's dire staff shortage has led the city to spend thousands on overtime.
Within the past year, the Aurora Police Department has seen a dramatic loss of officers, KMGH-TV reports. The department has seen 176 officers leave since January 2020.
“It’s extremely concerning,” Chief Vanessa Wilson said. “If it’s a life-or-death call, we are on our way. And if it's a property crime, it's going to probably wait.”
The lack of staffing means more overtime hours to make up the difference. Between late June and the end of July, officers worked nearly 720 hours of OT.
“The overtime is a huge concern,” Marc Sears, head of the Aurora police union, told KMGH.
