During a recent government meeting, officials discussed concerning trends in police recruitment, particularly the high rate of applicants failing to show up for written tests. Out of 799 applicants, over 70% did not attend the initial testing, raising alarms about the effectiveness of current recruitment strategies. Director Todd acknowledged that while some applicants may fail the test, the predominant issue is the high number of no-shows, which he described as a significant concern.

Commissioner Ward Patterson expressed skepticism about the recruitment outlook but noted Director Todd's optimism regarding potential improvements. The discussion highlighted that the no-show rate has historically hovered around 50%, but recent figures indicate a troubling increase, attributed to factors such as continuous recruitment efforts that allow applicants multiple chances to test.

The meeting also touched on demographic data, revealing a diverse applicant pool in terms of race and ethnicity, though gender representation remains a challenge. Officials noted that while 70% of recruits are city residents, applicants from outside Milwaukee, including neighboring states, also contribute to the pool.

Efforts to address the high no-show rate include offering test preparation sessions and reminders, as well as exploring new testing options, including online assessments. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives remains to be seen, as many applicants reportedly lose interest after applying.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further analyze the data, including demographic breakdowns of those who do not show up for tests, and to implement strategies aimed at improving recruitment and retention in the police force.