Sheriff's office cuts deputy shortage in half

AKRON — Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree announced that the Sheriff's Office's recent shortage of deputies has been cut by more than half with the swearing in of 14 new deputies on June 10 who completed the academy. Summit County Sheriff's Office Police-University of Akron.
Like most law enforcement agencies across the country, the Summit County Sheriff's Office has faced a deficit of deputies in recent years, with retirements outpacing new hires. The biggest contributor to this sudden shortage has been the retirement of a large number of deputies who joined the office about 30 years ago.
“When I and several of my colleagues joined the force in the early and mid-1990s, we were part of a huge hiring wave,” Fatheree said. “Three decades later, this generation of MPs has reached retirement age at the same time. »
The deputy shortage peaked in 2022, with the sheriff's office losing 59 deputies from the approved operational number. As of June 10, that number has been reduced to 28, with the start of a full summer class of cadets and another full class expected in the fall.
Fatheree attributes this turnaround to his team's innovative approach to recruiting and increased involvement in the community.
“Every interaction we have with the public is an opportunity to talk about a career with the Sheriff's Office,” Academy Commander Bill Holland said. “We are constantly networking and engaging. »
In 2022, the Sheriff's Office sought and received grants to develop new and innovative recruitment methods, with a particular focus on reaching more women and minorities. The Fatheree team produced recruiting videos and graphics and purchased ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and other platforms, and produced radio ads that aired for months on numerous local stations .
The Sheriff's Office also began to have a greater presence at job fairs and other social and cultural events within Akron's large immigrant communities.
“Many groups in our community have long been overlooked when it comes to recruiting,” Fatheree said. “Those days are over.”
An additional grant secured by the sheriff's office allowed them to remove another barrier preventing some from entering the law enforcement field: the cost of the academy.
“We found that many prospective cadets were not pursuing their dreams of working in law enforcement due to the financial barriers of attending the academy,” Holland said. “It’s difficult to drop everything and put your life on hold for several months to attend an academy full-time, especially when you work full-time or have children.”
For cadets committed to joining the Summit County Sheriff's Office after completing their education, the office now pays their full tuition and provides them with an hourly wage.
“It’s an investment in their future, it’s an investment in the future of our office and it’s an investment in the safety of our community,” Fatheree said. “It’s a win-win any way you slice it.”
The Sheriff's Office intends to maintain these recruitment efforts into the future and will continue to develop new outreach approaches and methods. Fatheree estimates the office will be back with full staff within two years.
Those interested in pursuing a career with the Summit County Sheriff's Office can learn more at SummitSheriffJobs.com.