The New Haven Police Department is hiring officers for 90 open positions.
“We were at 523 applicants last year, we are hoping to surpass that number,” said Sergeant Paul Finch.
The application to become a police officer opens up on Aug. 1. Police say within the last few years they have seen a decline in applicants, as police departments nationwide grapple with growing mistrust among the public.
“We are on par with national trends, national trends are seeing 50% decreases in applications,” said Assistant Chief David Zannelli.
On Wednesday, police and city officials visited the neighborhoods of Dixwell and Newhallville to encourage local residents to join the force.
“We think that will also bridge some of the gaps between the trust issues we see. So, if you see police officers that you are familiar with, that you came up with, the theory is that will help us and we will solve more violent crimes that way,” Zannelli said.
Mayor Justin Elicker said in addition to three large scale recruitment efforts, city officials have also been door knocking on a weekly basis.