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In many cases the police and sheriffs themselves are not hiring because they are faced with choice of keeping high pension payouts or hiring more people

Also, the background check process is intense, (and deals with the exact same understaffing problems) and it turns out that most people aren't willing to wait for nine months to get vetted for an entry-level job.

It's insane that police officer is an entry level job, no wonder you have so many issues with the police in the US.

Not sure if you're blaming the press for doing their jobs...