• The police department is currently authorized 242 sworn personnel and 57.5 professional staff. Of those positions, there are currently 22 sworn vacancies and 11 professional staff vacancies.
• In 2022, the police department was able to hire 25 sworn officers but lost 27 sworn officers to attrition.
• Effectiveness of VPD in supporting community safety is dependent in large part on filling all authorized vacancies.
• To remain competitive in the current job market, the Office of the Chief determined that there is a business necessity to retain a marketing firm to assist with officer recruitment.
• RFP 42-22 was solicited with responses due by October 26, 2022. The City received 7 responses. After a thorough review, it is recommended that Loma Media be awarded the contract as the Police Department recruitment and marketing vendor.
• Costs of this contract are planned to be covered in the 2023-24 budget through salary savings associated with current and near term forecasted vacancies.

Goal 2: Provide effective, innovative and well-resourced police, fire and emergency medical services

Goal 2, Objective 2.1: Provide reliable and responsive police, fire and EMS service

One of the most important police department human resource processes is recruiting diverse, qualified police officer applicants. The VPD Background Unit is responsible for the recruitment, testing, and hiring of sworn entry and lateral police officer applicants, as well as professional staff, for the Police Department. VPD is currently authorized 242 sworn personnel and 57.5 professional staff. The Background Unit forwarded 25 candidates who were hired as sworn officers in 2022.

In addition to filling professional staff vacancies, the Chief of Police has set a hiring goal for 2023 of no less than 35 police officers. To reach this goal in an exceptionally competitive labor market, the police department is altering current recruiting and hiring practices.

Due to competing interests, as well as environmental and societal pressures, attracting diverse, qualified applicants to the City of Vancouver Police Department has proven more elusive and difficult than ever before. Despite hiring 25 police officers in 2019, 15 officers in 2020, 25 officers in 2021, and 25 officers in 2022, the police department has maintained about 20 police officer vacancies each year for the past 3 years. Attrition this year has been even more challenging compared to prior years.

 Continuing to entice applicants using the same resources and tools will no longer suffice. The Police Department must be more purposeful and creative to expand the pool of applicants interested in policing in Vancouver. The goal is to have a fully staffed Vancouver Police Department. To accomplish this goal, the Police Department continues to develop a strategic process and dedicate personnel and fiscal resources to this endeavor, including the engagement of a marketing firm to assist with the recruitment effort.

1. Improved candidate awareness of the benefits of working for the Vancouver Police Department, and the available employment opportunities.
2. Increased pool of qualified and diverse applicants for sworn and professional staff positions within the police department.