AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The City of Auburndale is in need of more police officers, and right now it's having a tough time filling its ranks.

  • 5 departures from department in past 6 months
  • Difficulty finding applicants who can pass background check
  • Interested in applying? Click HERE

In the past six months, five officers have left the city's police department -- two officers retired, one got another job, one moved out of state and one quit after training.

“We’re at minimum staffing all the time right now,” said Deputy Chief Andy Ray. “The fewer people we have on the street, then the more calls we send a single officer to and the higher the level of danger is. Those are concerns for me.”

The department has been actively trying to replace the officers that left, but response to the job openings has been slow.

“We’ve probably only had 10 to 12 applications," Ray explained. "It’s harder and harder to find people who are willing to do the work."

"Police officers are often underappreciated," he continued. "People see where the atmosphere has been the last three to four years, and people are afraid to step into the occupation."

The recent deadly shootings of deputies in Gilchrist and Highlands counties hasn’t made attracting new applicants any easier, according to Ray. He said it’s also difficult to find people who can pass the background check.

“More often than not the applications we get have disqualifying issues in them," he said. "Either prior crimes or some sort of drug use."

He’s hoping to find some qualified people soon, before he wears out the officers still left. Many of them are working overtime to fill shifts when other officers go on vacation or call in sick.

“We don’t ever want to rush through applicants and select somebody that may not be the best fit, and we’re not ever going to lower our standards so we can fill positions,” Ray said.

Ray also emphasized that residents should not be concerned. The department still has enough officers to staff each shift, and when they need assistance the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the city of Winter Haven provide support.

The starting pay is $41,641. Officers' compensation includes health and life insurance, tuition reimbursement and a pension. To learn more or to apply, click HERE.