San Antonio is facing a police officer shortage, and we are not alone. Nationwide, many cities are beginning to feel the consequences of staffing shortages, which are caused by many factors, both in and out of the control of city leaders.
Whatever the cause, a community with a police force strength that is not keeping pace with its growth presents a clear threat to public safety, the biggest of which may come from the longer response times that can arise due to having fewer officers on the street. Add to this, the real possibility that once officers arrive on scene, they may get held back from immediately going into extreme situations if police leadership deems that there is not enough backup available, or if it’s too far away.
Fewer officers also means more overtime for those already on patrol. While this may be a good thing for those officers who want extra work, there are negative consequences to too much overtime. These include fatigue, which can impact performance, and increased stress, which can put officers at greater risk for a range of health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and increased levels of destructive stress hormones.
Staffing shortages can also affect the time and attention officers give a call. Our Police Officers always want to ensure they give every call the attention it deserves and that any problem or crisis is addressed thoroughly and safely. Fewer officers addressing more and more calls in ever expanding jurisdictions may result in an officer having to move quickly between calls, and having to take calls at priority levels, leaving long wait times for citizens with low priority calls.
Finally, it’s a fact that Police Officers have a job like no other. In the course of a typical shift, they do more than just policing. Depending on the situation, they are everything from crisis managers to social workers. Fewer officers on the street means that our officers are doing even more than they already do.
Despite this, our San Antonio Police Officers are hardworking professionals who will do their job regardless of the circumstances. In the meantime, the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association will keep doing everything we can to urge city leaders to adequately fund the number of officers positions needed to keep up with city growth and to ensure Police Officers have the resources and the backup they need to continue to keep San Antonio safe.