WELLSTON, Mo. — The St. Louis County Police Department is on a mission to bring on new recruits.
Applicants were heavily focused as they took a written exam Saturday inside the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy in Wellston.
"We have applicants that are able to move through the full testing process today. Typically this is done in a couple days, and we're trying to streamline that process and make it easier for applicants to move forward in the process," said Officer Kim Haus, a recruiter for the department.
One group who showed up at the hiring event got a taste of the Metro Air Support Unit and K-9 training.
With the department heavily spread across the county on calls lately, Haus said the event and buzzing interest from it was beneficial.
"Anything that the public is calling in with that's a directed assignment but then our officers are also able to do self-initiated activities (like) traffic enforcement or they are driving down the street and they see something on view." she said about an officer's daily duties.
Haus noted that the department was short about 100 officers. Recruiters hoped the people applying and a future graduating class would change that.
"We do have a class graduating in June. And then individuals here today at the hiring event, the goal is to get them into our June academy class that starts on June 24 and they will graduate mid-December 2024," Haus said.
Officer Micah Shelton, another recruiter for the department, noted some of the benefits involved in becoming an officer including education incentives, health benefits and a retirement account.
"It can be any type of skill level, any type of education. Whatever your background is, we can use it in our police department because we have a diverse community that we police every day, that we serve and that we interact with," Shelton said.
In addition to commissioned officers, the department is looking for security officers, public safety dispatchers and clerk positions.
"We are looking for individuals who are motivated and want to make a difference in the community. You have to have a good heart. You have to want to help others," Haus said.