With police departments increasingly falling under the public microscope, it is extremely important for police chiefs and hiring managers to be certain they are hiring the right men and women to serve as officers.

With that in mind, the process of recruiting and screening candidates may be more important than ever in police departments. Fortunately, a range of companies exist that can help police departments make the right hiring choices for their needs.

Better recruiting on the front end can also help with a more familiar problem on the back end: retention. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2008, law enforcement agencies hired approximately 61,000 officers, but lost 51,000 in the same time frame for a variety of reasons, including resignation, medical and non-medical retirements, dismissals, and probationary rejections.1 Although departures are unavoidable, particularly in a profession as stressful and demanding as law enforcement, ensuring a good fit at the outset could help minimize the risk of high turnover.