Improving Recruitment by Developing a Training and Mentorship Program for Non-Sworn Community Service Officers

• In Event: Tucson Police Department: Innovations and Evaluations

Abstract

As an attempt to combat the ongoing police recruitment crisis, many police agencies have developed or started to expand alternative response programs. Specifically, the hiring and training of civilian staff to respond to community needs. Tucson Police Department (TPD) currently employs 142 Community Service Officers, non-commissioned, call-responding members of the department, many of whom desire to become sworn officers. In 2024, TPD piloted a Community Service Officer to Police Officer Recruit Pipeline Program. The purpose of the program is to formalize a training and mentorship process for TPD’s Community Service Officers to become sworn police officers, focusing on enhanced agency support. We developed an evaluation to capture implementation challenges and successes, as well as program effectiveness. The success rate of Community Service Officers through the training program, success during the academy, and graduation rates were analyzed. The program development processes are described by inclusion of program stakeholder perspectives and routinely collected program metrics. The evaluation focused on capturing areas of improvement to inform future iterations of the TPD program and to provide insight for other agencies who desire develop similar programs. This research blends a rigorous evaluation with practical implications for future police alternative response programming efforts.

Author

• Megan Parks, Tucson Police Department