The Camden County Police Department is less than 100 officers short of its ideal staffing.
CAMDEN -- In a perfect world, the Camden County Police Department would be fully staffed with 428 officers. As of last week, metro's ranks were built with 358 men and women in blue.
Fortunately, New Jersey's Civil Service Commission is accepting new Law Enforcement Examinations for prospective police officers through the end of this month. It's not a moment too soon either, as the list of Camden County residents to hire from has been "exhausted for some time," county officials say, and there have been more than 150 resignations since the formation of the force in 2013.
"I want the Camden County Police Department (CCPD) to be as representative as the society we serve," police Chief Scott Thomson said last week. "We cannot reach our fullest potential as guardians without diversity. It enriches our perspectives and broadens our empathy."
With turnover admittedly an issue, both Camden brass and critics of the force see stumbling blocks when it comes to filling out the force.
"Across the country, police departments are experiencing the increased challenges of recruiting and retaining millennials for policing, especially minorities," the chief said.
Shop local
The deadline for filing for the statewide law enforcement entrance exam -- which was last given three years ago -- is Aug. 31. For civil service jurisdictions, which Camden is, this is the only time for those hoping to become police officers to submit to testing.
As the list of applicants hailing from Camden County has since been depleted, county spokesman Dan Keashen said, metro has had to go looking outside local boundaries for new officers.
"...it's extremely important for us to have qualified candidates taking the test locally from the city and building up a pool of individuals that will have a vested interest in their community working on behalf of the residents of Camden," Keashen said.
Put Camden police under local control
Not only are beat officers handing out flyers and asking store owners to post them in stores, Thomson said, but the department has enlisted the help of New Jersey's NAACP branch president, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union and other minority and social justice groups.
"What the county wants is the ability to attract talented individuals that want to be part of a transformative effort here in Camden and are up to the challenge of being guardians in the city by serving our residents," Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said.
According to a flyer advertising the current hiring push, CCPD was hosting test prep seminars and would refund the application fee upon completing the police academy and being hired.
"As we have seen in the past, the next law enforcement test could be more than three years from now, so we are encouraging as many local candidates as possible to seize this opportunity," Thomson said.
Recruiting, retaining
According to an August 2012 resolution passed by the county freeholders, hiring Camden City residents first was top priority when filling Camden County metro positions. Camden County residents, those living in contiguous counties and other New Jersey residents were the following preferences in that order.
Despite that resolve, and the benefit of having people on the force who know the area, according to the resolution, some critics say hiring local hasn't stopped the bleeding -- and it likely won't.
"They realize that if they hire locally, they'll be more inclined to stay," said Camden County NAACP first vice-president Darnell Hardwick, whose group takes issue with the money that's being "wasted" on the force.
"There's still a long list of people who want to transfer out," Hardwick continued, saying ex-officers have cited long shifts, salary discrepancies, a general dislike of the way the department operates and the chief himself as reasons for wanting out.
According to documents provided to NJ Advance Media, two resignations in August were approved by the freeholder board; that's down from nine in July. Those who left in that latter month hailed from as far south as Somers Point, in Atlantic County, up to Paramus, in Bergen County. A sergeant from Sicklerville, whose salary stood at $96,278, was among the retirements.
According to figures provided by Camden County officials, there have been a total of 151 resignations from the force and 36 retirements as of this week. Previous media reports indicate more than 100 officers had resigned as of late last year, with half of that figure taking jobs as cops in other police departments.
Keashen said attrition is compounded by the obligation to hire state-wide as officers who sometimes live 50 miles away leave "for the convenience and cost effectiveness of being closer to home."
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.