[In the player above, watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage of the Cleveland police shortage.]
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has learned a Cleveland police recruit failed a fitness test, meaning there’s one fewer new officer on the way at a time when the city is desperate to add to the force.
Next week, only a tiny class of new recruits will graduate and join the Cleveland police force. Now, that class is down to 12 people.
Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia told the I-Team one recruit failed a physical fitness test then resigned last month.
Only a handful of other Cleveland police recruits are in training for the next class behind this one.
Last August, the chief told the I-Team the city would be hiring a marketing firm to recruit officers. It never happened. Just this week, the mayor announced the city is finalizing a contract with a marketing firm.
The city also plans a “summit” next month with police unions to come up with ways to help keep current officers and bring in more.
In the meantime, the I-Team has reported detectives, including undercover cops, now have to help out on patrols since the police department is so short-staffed.
So many officers have been leaving the Cleveland Police Department and so few have been getting hired that the force is down hundreds of officers.
Cleveland, Ohio, police recruit fails fitness test
