Despite largest cadet class in years, San Antonio Police Department struggles to fill positions

By Jennifer Cruz

The San Antonio Police Department welcomed more than 50 cadets to the force this week. (Photo: Ken 5)
More than 50 cadets began training with the San Antonio Police Department on Monday, but despite the largest class size in years, the department still has more than 100 vacant positions to fill.
“We have, on average, about five to six officers leaving the department on a monthly basis,” San Antonio City Manager, Sheryl Sculley, told reporters. “We have a force of 2,400, so we’re constantly recruiting.”
The newest class, which will graduate in March, is made up of more than 40 men and half dozen women. Currently, women make up only 10 percent of the force, a number the department hopes will soon increase.
But despite the low number of female officers, Sculley said the department has racial diversity.
“Our department is very racially diverse,” she said. “It reflects the community we serve, and we know that one area that we need improvement is more women within the ranks and within the upper ranks.”
And the department offers competitive salaries and benefits packages as an enticing incentive for both men and women to join the ranks.
Cadets start out at just over $40,000 a year, and the

Source: Guns.com