‘Actively hiring’: KCPD increases salary to attract new recruits

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Monday morning, 19 Kansas City police recruits started their first day at the KCMO police academy. The academy is seven months long, followed by a break-in period before they become a full-time police officer about a year after their first day.

This comes at the same time KCPD ramped up its recruiting efforts. Police staffing shortages continue to plague departments across the country, and KCPD is no different.

Recently, the department increased its starting pay to $65,000 and has seen a rise in applications since.

“We’re going to make sure they’re trained to the best of our ability and when they hit the streets they have the confidence to answer calls and serve the public,” Sgt. Gordon Herndon said.

Sgt. Herndon said one of the biggest challenges when short-staffed is response time and the department’s number one priority is keeping everyone safe.

“The folks in this room are the ones that don’t want to just talk about it, they want to get up and do something about it,” Sgt. Herndon said. “Go risk your life and serve the public, know you’re making a difference, every day you’ve helped someone.”

Even though Kansas City Police have seen a spike in applications, they’re still actively hiring. Before someone can join the academy, they have to pass a written and physical exam. Those tests are offered on the third Wednesday of every month.

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