CLEVELAND — The issue of police shortages can be seen across various police departments nationwide. In the City of Cleveland, we’re seeing efforts to bolster its law enforcement team.

What You Need To Know

  • Police shortages have been hitting the Cleveland Police Department

  • The City of Cleveland and the police department have been working together to increase it’s ranks

  • Recruits like Dorion Dow that made it past the physical agility exam are now in the police academy

The City of Cleveland and the police department have been working together to increase its ranks, by holding an expedited recruitment process, and those efforts appear to be working.

Sergeant Freddy Diaz said the department is seeing its largest class of recruits in years, but now the objective is making sure they’re fit to serve.

“Earlier on this year we had an expedited hiring event, and we had a pretty good turnout, so we decided to do one again,” he said.

The department has been to fill more than 300 openings this year, and even offered more incentives and changed the way they recruit. The department added a signing bonus, and a quicker and more effective recruitment system. 

“We needed to figure out a way to get these candidates in a little quicker, process them a little quicker and be more effective in our goal,” he said.

Recruits like Dorion Dow, that made it past the physical agility exam, are now in the police academy, saying they’re trusting this process amidst all the challenges.

“You will work hard, when your instructor sees that you are struggling they will help you but they’re going to come at you because they want you to be prepared to be on the road because you’re going to go through a lot of dangers and stressors,” he said.

Romel Moore, another recruit, also explained the opportunity to keep trying, even after being rejected the first time.

“I want to say I tried to apply to Cleveland police four times now, due to the first time me not passing the physical agility assessment, I didn’t throw the towel in, I reapplied,” he said.

A trip to Sunday’s recruitment event showing us just how strenuous the physical agility assessment is. Sergeant Diaz saying this is one of the first steps to a long process.

“Once they complete that, they will go through the preliminary background check. If everything comes out ok, they will be offered a preconditional letter of employment for the police academy,” he said.

Recruits were seen pushing their bodies to the limit for a chance to serve their community.