Despite aggressive recruitment drives and hefty five-figure bonuses, the critically understaffed Los Angeles County Probation Department is still losing hundreds of officers more each year than it can replace, according to data released by the department.
As of last week, the department had a 36% vacancy rate among its sworn positions — the roles requiring peace officer certification — or 2,408 positions filled out of the 3,752 budgeted.
In 2022, amid a hiring freeze, that vacancy rate was about half that amount. It has grown every year since then, even after the county ended the freeze and stepped up recruitment efforts by flooding billboards, bus stops and job fairs with advertisements for openings.
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