Video: Police warn of possible state-wide officer shortage

---

Springfield PD say they need more qualified recruits.

www.wptz.com

By Renee Wunderlich BIO Police warn of possible state-wide officer shortage Springfield PD say they need more qualified recruits UPDATED 9:19 AM EST Jan 20, 2016 NEXT STORY Men charged in Barre burglary Text Size:AAA SHOW TRANSCRIPT SPRINGFIELD, Vt. —A good police officer is hard to find, and it could be getting more difficult according to officers at Springfield Police Department. Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston said it usually takes about six months of training before an officer can be out on the beat - and that assumes he or she makes it through the rigorous screening process. "We're lucky to get one out of 35 applicants that actually qualify," Johnston said. But Johnston said the need for more good-quality recruits is very real. "We're looking for self-discipline, for people who would like to have this as a career," Johnston said. State police are expecting expecting a large number of retirees over the next several years -- another thing Johnston says can hurt departments. "What you can't get back, when someone leaves, the experience they have with the community," Johnston said. And officers in Springfield said they're not alone; other departments across the state are looking for more qualified candidates. Thirty-five different towns and villages in Vermont are seeking serious applicants. But for now, Johnston said department programming sometimes take a hit. "We'd like to do more, but with the staffing that we have, we're not able to do more," Johnston said. And he said there is another cost to having fewer police men and women. "What it affects is the morale, because when you have individuals working a lot of overtime, obviously they want to spend time with their families and rightly so," said Johnston. "That (the overtime) drains on people." Johnston said the Vermont Police Academy only holds two classes a year, and the next class scheduled to start in February is already full. But he said of the 38 spots in the class, 20 are reserved for Vermont State Police. The next open class at the Academy starts in August. For those who choose to apply , officers at the Springfield Department said it's a great career choice. "You help people, and it's always changing -- it's never boring," said Moriglioni.