Chicago Police, Struggling with ‘Brain Drain’, Lower Hiring Standards
According to data from the Policeman's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, more than 660 Chicago police officers retired and collected their pensions in 2021 — double the number of the 350 officers that retired in 2018.
Landwebs
According to data from the Policeman’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, more than 660 Chicago police officers retired and collected their pensions in 2021 — double the number of the 350 officers that retired in 2018. Experts warned the departure of more senior officers contributes to a “brain drain.” Many officers are leaving for personal reasons, whether because of the wake of major police misconduct cases, law enforcement being placed under new scrutiny, general low morale, or vaccine mandates, according to the Chicago Tribune. Despite the departures, experts say that a modest drop in the number of police likely won’t have much of an effect on crime, especially if officers are being deployed well and used effectively. But other more intangible, unmeasurable consequences could occur.
In order to combat these numerous departures, officials are now waiving the requirement for 60 hours of college credit to apply to be a Chicago Police Officer. Ralph Cilento, a retired NYPD lieutenant commander of detectives who is now an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said lowering the standards to become an officer can be harmful“As a citizen of Chicago, don’t you want smarter, better-educated, more mature cops? Of course we all do, but instead of treating the cops correctly, they dumb down the police department,” Cilento noted. “The dumbing down of the police is the worst thing ever. They’re doing that to combat high retirements and low recruitments because nobody wants the job.”
