Shortage of police recruits

CINCINNATI (Deb Dixon) -- Cities all over the country say applicants to be a police officer have dropped dramatically. It seems the job's tarnished image from police shootings is taking its toll. Few jobs are more dangerous. Officer Quentin Bishop is still with a field training officer. The new cop and former marine graduated from the Cincinnati Police Academy earlier in 2015.Officer Bishop said he was not getting backlash because of police community conflicts in other cities, "Last week patrons paid for our meal at Skyline. We go to pay, didn't say nothing just paid for it." Sgt. Steve Saunders said, Our goal is to hire people who are service minded, problem oriented policing who want to serve others.Be a difference maker is the homegrown sales pitch for the Cincinnati police department. Men and women are buying into it. The department is considered a model in the country evolving after riots in 2001. Applications? No problem. Several thousand took the last test. Officer bishop decided to be a cop when he was a little boy growing up in Millvale. Bishop said he wanted to make a difference. Now he's doing it what he calls the Cincinnati way. 600 men and women have been picked out of the thousands who recently took the test. That will be cut down to between 30 and 60 recruits for the next class early in 2016. Follow Deborah Dixon on Twitter @crimestopperdeb, and LIKE her on Facebook.Follow us on Twitter @Local12 and LIKE us on Facebook for updates!