San Francisco Police Department Makes Crazy Choice To Fill Empty Ranks
Police recruitment efforts in San Francisco have shifted to out-of-state locations in hopes of attracting new hires for the city's police department. This comes amid a surge of crime in the city, with already more homicides reported this year than the whole of last year.
The city's Board of Supervisors approved a $50 million increase in the SFPD's budget last year after facing a surge in criminal activity. The rise in crime has been attributed to the nationwide protests and riots led by the Marxist BLM movement during the Summer of Love. The defund the police movement, popular among progressives, has also left the SFPD understaffed and overwhelmed.
As a result, the SFPD is now looking to recruit candidates from universities in Texas, including historically black universities like Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University. This marks the first time the department has tested candidates outside of California, in an effort to speed up the recruitment process and attract more applicants.
The CEO of Salesforce Inc., Marc Benioff, has also weighed in on the situation, putting pressure on the city to address the rising crime rates and homelessness issue. Benioff, who hosted his company's annual convention in the city last week, commended the city for being "clean, beautiful, and safe" during the event. However, he questioned why the city cannot maintain the same level of cleanliness and safety on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has also recently changed her stance on the BLM movement, realizing that her previous support may have contributed to the current state of the city. However, it may be too late as businesses have already closed down, and downtown remains deserted due to safety concerns.
In light of this, the SFPD is hoping to attract new officers who are willing to relocate to the city. Candidates will undergo a written test, a physical ability test, and an interview to join the SFPD.
Overall, the recruitment efforts outside of California reflect the urgency to address the crime and safety issues in San Francisco. It remains to be seen if these efforts will yield positive results, as the city tries to recover from the impact of the Summer of Love.