LMPD lowers requirements to become police officer

I'm first!

"We can teach them what they need to be good, qualified police officers."

Maybe not

I remember about 10 years ago when the Indiana State Police did this same thing, for similar reasons.

I appreciate that the department wants a group of educated and / or public-service oriented individuals (i.e. college grads, long-time military, a combo, etc.). But as the former Mayor Abramson said (speaking of former Chief White's pay), "if you want talent like that, you need to pay for it."

I think LMPD is now coming to terms with its ability to pay based on previous training and / or experience. If you have an associate's in criminal justice, why become a cop and make $40k / year when you could go into some other line of work and make $50k? If you have spent time in school or the military, why become a cop and have to work weekends, holidays, afternoon / overnight, etc., risk getting killed on the job, etc., when you might be able to take your previous education and experience into another line of work and know that you might make more money, have weekends and holidays off, not have to worry about getting killed on the job, etc.?

I think LMPD & Indiana State Police have had to realize that asking higher education & military, and giving extra consideration to them, is good, and not something to shirk. But if you want talent, as the former mayor said, you need pay for it. If you can't offset the pay-rate and terms in one way or another, and you expect loyalty to public service because you want people that just appreciate their job, since you can't give better pay or benefits / terms, then you can't restrict your view of candidates to a narrow group.

If you want talent: pay for it. That's all I can say to describe this.

http://m.wlky.com/news/officer-taken-to-hospital-after-officerinvolved-shooting/40016460

http://m.wlky.com/news/2-taken-to-university-hospital-after-shooting-at-white-castle/40018108

http://www.wdrb.com/story/32198378/update-victim-identified-in-fatal-shooting-at-13th-street-and-patton-court-2

http://www.wave3.com/story/32200887/less-than-24-hours-after-alis-burial-violence-continues-in-city

-Maybe you should lower the qualifications to be a police officer a little more. That might just do the trick.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/32201274/lmpd-officer-shot-suspect-still-on-the-run-and-considered-armed-and-dangerous

Facebook user Trice Gill; "Good finally pigs getting a taste of their own meds he should've killed that pig FTP"

Facebook user Dillon Saks; "F@@k em lol."

Facebook user Britney Living; "F@@k the police!!!!"

Scrolling through the comments on WDRB's website, hizhonor may want to reach out and have a direct link to recruiting established. There seem to be at least three qualified applicants that can bring a unique perspective to the LMPD family.