ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — There's a job shortage impacting safety in St. Louis County, and in an effort to recruit more police officers, the police department is getting more creative with a brand new docuseries.
New episodes are released every Monday on the department's YouTube channel, and the series follows recruits of Class 209 through training at the St. Louis County Municipal Police Academy.
It was produced and directed by St. Louis County Police Department’s Digital Media Specialist Brian McClelland.
“It has been an immensely rewarding experience to have the full support of the department behind both myself and this idea," McClelland said. "This project has spanned six months of filming and nearly a year of production, marking it the largest video production our department has undertaken to date. Collaborating with the patient and dedicated CMPA staff, as well as the gracious and accommodating recruits of Class 209, has been both exciting and fulfilling. I am eager to share their story."
Right now, the St. Louis County Police Department has 803 police officers and 144 vacancies. The good news is 25 new recruits are entering a basic training course next month in January to hopefully earn their badge.
Officer Kim Haus and Officer Micah Shelton are the two recruiters for the department. She said the department is always recruiting around the region and across the country.
"The recruitment process typically takes two to three months from the time we meet our applicant until they're given that full offer to go into an academy," Officer Haus said.
If recruits accept the challenge, the academy takes another six months. So far people can watch two episodes called "Day One" and "Hell Friday."
Anna Godfrey says every recruit needs to find their 'why' on Day 1 of the academy or else they'll have trouble getting through it. She says her why is because she had a difficult childhood and a police officer helped her through it.
Joe Roesch said he grew up with law enforcement in his family.
"It's kind of always been something I've been interested in my entire life," Roesch said.
Roesch and Godfrey graduated the police academy this summer. Roesch is now a probationary officer who works for the division of patrol at the North County Precinct. Godfrey became a probationary parole officer at the Jennings Precinct.
She says the docuseries shows the challenges recruits face before the badge.
"The long days, the long hours, the crying the tasing, the pepper spray, the fighting and (studying)," Godfrey said.
Roesch echoed Godfrey's message: "Some days there was physical pain and a lot of mental pain," Roesch said.
Recruits are in the academy Monday through Friday's for at least 10 hours a day.
Digital and Social Media Coordinator Vera Clay believes the docuseries will be a positive impact
"Recruitment, community engagement and an opportunity to show your community who your officers are and how they're willing to serve," Clay said.
Roesch and Godfrey say they're more than ready to serve their community.
"It's still a good profession, it's still a rewarding career," Roesch said.
"I want to inspire everybody to do what they want to do no matter your size or gender, just make that difference," Godfrey said.
Officer Haus said the department is looking for determined officers and this year they've added 6 new military bases for recruiting new people. She says she will be showing prospective police candidates some of the docuseries during recruiting events.
Here are upcoming recruitment opportunities at military bases:
- Feb. 13 - Scott Air Force Base, O’Fallon, Illinois.
- March 5 – Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.
- April 10 - Kansas City Veterans Fair, Kansas City, Missouri.
- May 8 - Fort Liberty, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
- May 14 – Ft. Cavazos, Texas.
- July 9 – Ft. Moore, Columbus, Georgia.
If you'd like to become a St. Louis County Police Department officer, you can apply here. The department advertises starting pay at $60,940 per year for new officers and experienced officers receive up to $90,090 per year.