KCKPD hiring event at Children’s Mercy Park hopes to bring in dozens of applications
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been struggling to recruit as applications have drastically decreased across the board for positions since 2020.
This is according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation but now departments are doing what they can to get creative and get applicants in the door.
The Kansas City Kansas Police Department did just that through a hiring event on Thursday. This was held at Children’s Mercy Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and included some cool demonstrations. They’re looking to bring on up to 40 new officers.
“We have a ride along here today so sign up to do that because I think that by doing the ride along it really just pushed me over the edge and I was like Yeah this is what I want to do,” KCKPD Officer Jovanna Cheatum said.
But it included more than that too. A SWAT vehicle was on site along with a slew of equipment used in daily response to show prospective officers just what it takes to be in law enforcement in 2025.
Applicant Austin Schmitt says he is going to be g up to do a ride-along soon. Schmitt showed up to the event Thursday ready. He already has those first application steps done and says he hopes to bring his own expertise to the department if hired.
“I’m currently law enforcement in the military on Fort Leavenworth so this something to kind of help me transition to the civilian side that’s kind of what basically got me into it,” he said.
Attendees could also take a written exam and interview at the hiring event on Thursday. These are the first steps to becoming a police officer in the department.
The next exam is on February 19 and these are held monthly. You can learn more about open positions and how to apply by emailing [email protected].
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