Police recruiter a challenging but coveted job: Support the Shield’s Officers of the Month
KDVR Fox 31
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Being a police officer is tough enough, trying to convince others to join the force can be an even bigger challenge.
Since the 1990s, the Aurora Police Department has had a recruiting unit that aims to find men and women who might consider wearing the badge.
Just training to become a police officer is challenging, to say the least, but before recruits are even trained, well, you need to have recruits. That’s where the Aurora Police Department Recruiting Unit comes in.
Their goal is simple.
“To find qualified applicants and to get them to join the Aurora Police Department. It can be challenging,“ said Aurora police officer Abdul Syidi.
During normal times it is challenging, but these are not normal times for law enforcement. That is not a deterrent for the three officers and one sergeant recruiting team.
“You have a misconception of what police officers are, and what we do. In the day-to-day, people don’t realize that we are people too,“ said Aurora police officer and recruiter Douglas Fisher.
Day-to-day duties find the Aurora recruiting unit sending emails, answering phone calls, following up on social media and attending job fairs, military events, gatherings and faith-based events, as well. They attend 80 to 100 events every year, looking for men and women who just might have the right stuff.
“They need to be 21 years of age, high school diploma, GED, no felony convictions, no serious misdemeanors,“ said Syidi.
And most importantly, the desire to wear the badge.
Currently, the Aurora Police Department is about 70 positions down. Starting pay is a little north of $67,000 annually.
“It’s a rewarding job. It can be easy on some days and difficult on others,“ said Syidi.
Being a police officer may be rewarding, but it is also stressful, challenging, and more times than not, unappreciated. That’s why the men of the Aurora Police Department recruiting unit are this month’s Support the Shield Officers of the Month.