Summary
This researcher examined the recruitment process to identify best practices for law enforcement leaders to populate vacant positions with a competent and skilled workforce. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to identify best practices for law enforcement agencies to recruit and maintain trustworthy officers to protect local communities. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the historical evolution of recruitment practices. The researcher used a review of past and present police-recruitment practices to help identify best practices by which law enforcement administrators can select trustworthy officers. This case study was used to examine and compare recruitment practices, minimum requirements, disqualifiers, advertising campaigns, testing procedures, background investigations, and panel interviews. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with law enforcement officers and human resource personnel from four of Virginia’s law enforcement departments, and identified three themes based on the sample population’s responses: strategy, trends, and requirements. The researcher identified a progression of recruitment practices executed by a layered-approach. The recruitment process addressed eligibility requirements and potential disqualifiers established by hiring authorities and the State of Virginia. Through the findings of this study, law enforcement leaders may be armed with new knowledge to improve the recruitment process, with the end result of recruiting a qualified and competent workforce.