Janie Wagstaff: Bad way to recruit good police officers

Regarding the June 23 news article “Police: Durham council member should apologize”: Councilwoman Jillian Johnson says she feels “unsafe” in Durham. I have talked to many residents who voice that same concern. But no one knows that the Durham PD is understaffed.

Johnson’s rhetoric hardly inspires good men and women to apply, much less commit to rigorous training (six months) and then risk their lives every day for a starting salary of $34,000.

The Durham city budget funds 20 more officers, but that doesn’t even cover routine attrition from retirement each month or officers choosing to move to less dangerous cities for more pay.

I’m wondering if Johnson would apply to work in east Durham District 2 for under $35,000? Would she do the job only to be slandered by the very city council that police officers (who are city employees) are governed by? Has she ridden community watch? Has she ridden along in District 2? Has she talked with individual officers? Has she formulated policy suggestions to both improve policing and safety issues in Durham?

Words have consequences. In this case, Johnson’s words serve only to make us all less safe as long as fewer good people apply to the Durham Police Department.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Janie Wagstaff: Bad way to recruit good police officers."