SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — The Sioux Falls police department is already seeing a response to a new marketing campaign to recruit new officers. The department launched the campaign last month with the hope of finding new recruits to fill openings within their ranks.
Officer Erin Bertram has reached a milestone in her law enforcement career. August 1st marked her 8-year anniversary with the Sioux Falls Police Department.
“I think the time went by really fast. It doesn’t feel like it’s been eight years,” Bertam said.
Bertram now works as a resource officer with George McGovern Middle School. She’s also one of the people who will be featured in the department’s recruiting campaign to hire new officers.
“Feel the urge to do something different, or help the community and I think that’s a big thing for me that I’ve always wanted to help my community and serve my community,” Bertram said.
Police credit the recruiting campaign with already attracting more people interested in law enforcement.
“It’s a little too early to draw results, but I can tell you we’re seeing a higher number of applicants than we have in the past couple of years,” Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum said.
Chief Thum believes there’s a renewed interest in careers in law enforcement in the four years since the murder of George Floyd sparked a social justice backlash against police departments across the country.
“Post 2020, a lot of young people in particular and people who were even thinking of this job were maybe that’s not for me. There’s a lot of societal pressure and a lot of issues right now. But I think they’re also starting to see over the past couple of years just how vital this profession is to the community,” Thum said.
Police see the marketing campaign a a tool to cast wider net to find recruits from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. They say the community’s support for law enforcement is also key to bringing more officers into the department.
“And I think that’s something we have to sell and promote. That we are a great community unlike any other and it’s a great spot to be in law enforcement,” Thum said.
The Sioux Falls Police Department officers a $5-thousand sign-up bonus for new hires.
The recruiting campaign runs through the end of the year.
