Police Officer Hiring Rises in 2023 After Years of Decline: Survey

Departments of all sizes—small, medium, and large—saw hiring increases, according to data from 214 law enforcement agencies.

New Chicago Police Department officers attend their graduation ceremony in Chicago on March 15, 2017. Joshua Lott/AFP via Getty Images

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are reporting an increase in their ranks for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a new survey found that more sworn officers were hired in 2023 than in each of the previous four years.