The current labor shortage has changed how the Manitowoc Police Department fills vacancies on the force.
Chief Nick Reimer says it’s now more of a “boots on the ground” approach in the hiring process.
“Myself, SGT Krock, and LT. Cooper Schmidt, we go to out to LTC, Fox Valley, NWTC, and we recruit. We never had to do that (before),” the Chief revealed. “In years past, we would wait for people to come to us…That’s just not the way it is anymore. We have to go there, show them what we are all about, show them the support we have from the community, show them the different opportunities they have if they come work for the Manitowoc Police Department.”
Reimer says Community support and trust has made this problem a whole lot easier to deal with.
“Two Rivers, Sheriff’s Office, ourselves, we are trying to get up to staff, but even if we are down a few officers, it’s not hundreds like the big cities,” he explained. “We need police officers out there to deter crime, to solve crime…but ultimately you need people to support police. Generally speaking, most people do, certainly here locally.”
In fact, Manitowoc’s overall crime rate has declined each of the last seven years dating back to last year.
Manitowoc’s top law official adds that they never have or would “lower their standards” just to fill vacancies.
He adds “We hire for character and train for skill.”
