The shortage of officers is prompting Georgia police to look to New Jersey for recruits

7/7/2022 9:51 p.mUpdated 2h ago

Through: News 12 employees

A Georgia police department in need of officers has come to New Jersey to look for new recruits.

The Hasbrouck Heights High School gym was reserved Thursday morning for testing for those who want to become police officers. But the candidates will not go to any local police station. They’re looking for jobs with the Alpharetta Police Department.

“We are prepared to conduct our entire testing process here on Jersey soil,” says Alpharetta Police Capt. Jakai Braithwaite.

Braithwaite grew up in Hopatcong. Tired of waiting to get a troupe job in New Jersey, he found Alpharetta 24 years ago. While there are too many candidates in the Garden State, Braithwaite sees things very differently in Georgia.

“There’s a small group of candidates interested in the job and we eat each other up. We all compete for them,” says Braithwaite. “Honestly, just to be transparent, we’re not popular at the moment. Being in law enforcement right now is not popular.”

Alpharetta boss John Robison says it was completely different in 2011 when he was in charge of hiring.

“With four openings, 160 people would come. Nothing like that anymore,” says Robison.

The Alpharetta Police are looking to fill up to 13 positions in the department. Robison says candidates at the Hasbrouck Heights gym could be on the job as early as August.

One of those possible candidates is Tom Horne from Hamilton, a recent graduate of Rider University.

“I’ve waited years for the New Jersey departments, and for it to happen in a day or two is pretty unique,” says Horne.

At 22, Horne says he wants to work but hasn’t been able to get an interview with a local police department, sheriff’s office, or the New Jersey State Police.

That would be completely different with Alpharetta.

“A guy like him, assuming he gets through the process, I’ll hire in two months,” says Robison.

The candidates were on Zoom calls for interviews. If all goes well, they could be starting a law enforcement career in the South before the end of the summer.

“If you saw Alpharetta for yourself, you would say, ‘You know what? I’m staying,’” says Braithwaite.

Alpharetta police will be back at the Hasbrouck Heights High School gymnasium Friday morning. Anyone serious about joining their squad should show up by 9am