Lowell officials outline hiring changes, prep courses as police staffing lags

Lowell City Public Safety Committee members heard detailed staffing and recruiting updates from the Lowell Police Department on July 22 as officials described efforts to accelerate hiring, expand outreach and run free exam-preparation sessions.

The update centered on four items requested by the committee: an assessment-center preparation course, the city’s upcoming civil service exam, a new hybrid (local registry) hiring pathway, and work by the department’s Citizens Advisory Committee.

Chief Greg Hudon told the committee, “Right right now, our staffing level is at about 214 officers. We are budgeted for 251 officers.” He said 15 recruits are already in training — five at the Lowell Police Academy and 10 at another academy at Northern Essex Community College — and that those graduations should bring sworn strength to about 230, before accounting for attrition and officers on long-term disability.

Deputy LeBlanc described how the hybrid or local registry approach is intended to shorten the time between application and having officers “boots on the ground.” Under the hybrid model, trained, already-certified officers can be…