Lynchburg reports lower police vacancies after recruitment and retention push

Dr. Holly Jennings presented an update on Lynchburg’s public safety recruitment and retention efforts at the Dec. 10 work session and said the city’s investments and personnel initiatives have reduced vacancies and turnover in the Lynchburg Police Department (LPD).

Jennings said the program package — which combined compensation changes, recruitment bonuses, a full-time recruiter, expanded outreach (including events across five states), marketing support, procedural streamlining and wellness investments — has delivered measurable results. She said the department hired 24 new officers in the past year (six were experienced officers) and reported an 88% acceptance rate for recruitment bonuses. On retention, Jennings said 74% of 105 eligible police officers signed retention contracts committing to four years and 91% of eligible emergency communications officers signed similar contracts.

Vacancies and turnover: Jennings said average vacancies in LPD for 2024 were 16 (compared with 27 in 2023). She noted the department carried as many as 30 vacancies in December 2023 and as few as 12 in June 2024; at the time of the briefing she reported 18 active vacancies. Departure rates fell from 27 officers in 2021 to 15 in 2024 so far; Jennings said that represents a 7% turnover rate, below a national average she cited of 10%.

Key program elements: the recruitment strategy includes: - Expanded outreach and a dedicated recruiter (Elsa Ramirez) who attended more than 40 events and multiple “Super Saturday” hiring events. - A contract with EPIC, a marketing firm specializing in public‑safety recruitment, which has begun producing promotional material for the department. - Use of Virginia “Fast Track” (Option 5) academies for out‑of‑state experienced officers to shorten training to six weeks. - Wellness investments, including a decompression space funded largely by the Lynchburg Police Foundation and upgraded gym facilities. - Adjustments to policy: a newly approved grooming standard allowing short, neatly groomed beards. - Addressing take-home vehicle delays by diversifying upfitting vendors; fleet director Charles Kramer and staff are coordinating to get vehicles out this spring.

Jennings and council members said more work remains — hospitals, fitness policies and final allocation of take-home vehicles are pending — but council members praised the results as evidence the city’s investment is reducing staffing pressures.

Quotations from presenters in the meeting reflect the framing that this is a results-driven, multi-element effort and that recruitment has become a national search. Jennings said, "There is no replacement for a well trained experienced LPD officer," and council members noted recruits have come from as far away as California and Washington state. The presentation did not include new budget approvals; it was an informational update and will inform future budget and policy choices.