School boards and law enforcement agencies in Florida contend that the “Safe Schools” budget signed into law earlier this month doesn’t provide enough money to pay for resource officers in every public school, and even if there was enough funding, police chiefs and sheriffs contend they can’t hire officers fast enough.

  • Judd: Hiring enough personnel could take years
  • Not enough qualified applicants
  • Competition for qualified applicants statewide

“It’ll take us to three, four, five years,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd told the Polk County school board, referring to the hiring process.

There are not enough qualified applicants coming forward to keep agencies fully staffed.

“If 500 people apply here we’ll hire about 40,” Judd explained.

The difference is in the understandably tough vetting process.

“Because it’s a very detailed process,” said Judd. “It’s very complicated. There’s a thorough background investigation, there’s psychologicals, there’s polygraphs, there’s drug testing and then you go to school.”

“It’s going to be tough for all of us to fill these openings,” said Lakeland police chief Larry Giddens. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the Lakeland Police Department is already understaffed.

“I have seven openings right now," Giddens said.

The difficulty in hiring officers may be compounded by the need for thousands of new resource officers.

“Now you are all of a sudden in competition with everyone else in the state of Florida,” said Judd.

In short, now would be a good time to apply to be a deputy or police officer.

“Absolutely,” said Larry Giddens. “If you are looking for a job, come see the Lakeland Police Department.”