STOCKTON, Calif. — After dealing with a crippling shortage of police officers for years, the Stockton Police Department said it is finally recovering.
"We're building back. We're being more visible," said Chief of Police Stanley McFadden."If you watch what we're doing, we're apprehending a lot of folks that are driving the violence."
Dozens of applicants lined up outside a classroom at San Joaquin Delta College Saturday morning for a test that would give them a chance to join the force.
"We've been having these tests monthly and getting three to four hundred candidates that want to come out and as you know, it's been hard to find officers these days," McFadden said.
Leaders in the department's recruiting unit have also noticed the trend.
"I've got 23 years of experience and thus far, this is the highest number of applicants we've had," said Stockton Police recruiting Lieutenant Anabel Morris. "I think with our strategy, it's really developing those relationships with applicants."
Chief McFadden said City Hall has also helped out.
"The city council, mayor, city manager... everyone's leaning together to make a more robust department," McFadden said.
Leaders at City Hall approved incentives like higher salaries for officers and signing bonuses of $15,000. With more money and attention, recruiters said they've been able to reach more people.
"Once I applied, they got back to me within 24 hours," said Bay Area native Jesus Gonzalez. "I decided that it's either now or never, and I'm fully into it. This is what I want to do, make a career out of it."
Of the 151 applicants Saturday, the department said 131 passed and will go through a background investigation before attending the academy and going into training.
It will still be another year and a half until any of the applicants end up clocking in for their first shifts as officers, but Chief McFadden said the department's initiatives to boost recruiting have already led to impacts on the streets.
"We're already adding resources to some of our proactive units. We've seized over 70% more handguns this year than we did last year," McFadden said. "Crime is down. We're being much more proactive. We have a lot more operations that we are conducting."
Despite the progress, there's more work to be done with at least 55 officer vacancies, according to police department data. However, with dozens of people taking their first steps on Saturday, McFadden hopes the number will soon shrink.
"My hat's off to our recruiting unit, to our community members that are also out there saying, 'Hey, give Stockton Police Department a chance,'" McFadden said.
Watch more from ABC10: Stockton Police Department sees surge in hiring and candidate interest
