Staffing 'Challenging' For Elmhurst Police

ELMHURST, IL – Filling the ranks at the Elmhurst Police Department is "challenging," with vacancies a persistent problem, the police chief said this week.

"The days of simply putting up a posting and having hundreds of people show up to take your police test are unfortunately behind us," Chief Michael McLean told the City Council.

The police department, which is budgeted for 68 sworn officers, is six short, he said.

"A new, focused effort needs to be made to directly recruit new officers candidates," McLean said.

Next year, McLean plans to form a recruitment team made up of officers with good communications skills. The officers, he said, would visit high schools, colleges and sporting events to recruit.

McLean spoke about the vacancy issue during a budget presentation.

Alderwoman Marti Deuter noted the police department's overtime is projected to stay high going into next year.

McLean said the increase in overtime this year was related to vacancies, which were up to eight at one point.

"In addition to that, we had six officers in training. Officers in training don't patrol by themselves," McLean said. "It will continue to take a lot of work on our end to get good people in the door as Elmhurst police officers."

He said everybody in the department stepped up, taking extra shifts.

The department's last eligibility test, which took place at York High School, attracted 39 applicants, he said.

"I remember being in the auditorium at York High School that was filled with hundreds when I took my test," McLean said.

Across the country, many police departments are facing similar recruitment issues. The problem is said to have gotten worse after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.