Building strong, innovative social programs into police work would benefit department, community (Editorial) Updated Mar 14, 2021; We have challenges to meet, including in Springfield, to get to that place. Many police departments throughout the country are finding it difficult to find recruits and many officers are electing to retire. The Police Education Research Foundation described this pattern as a “workforce crisis.” A 2019 survey by the foundation found 41% of police departments reporting a shortage of available officers. And the same poll showed 63% of departments reporting a decline in the number of applications over the previous five years. For many, the decision to become a police officer is answering a call to serve the community – not only playing a critical role in upholding the rule of law but also providing positive engagement in the community. A police officer becomes a servant of the residents they have sworn an oath to protect.