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Newark PD launches new recruitment campaign

Acting Police Chief Mark Farrall
Mark Arehart
/
Delaware Public Media
Acting Police Chief Mark Farrall

Police departments across the country are reporting difficulty in filling positions.

It’s no different for the Newark Police Department, which says it has more than a dozen openings.

Acting Police Chief Mark Farrall takes the top job permanently on Feb. 1.

He said the department is launching a new media campaign to recruit more officers.

“We’re approximately 20% down from our authorized strength. So, the biggest challenge that we face right now is filling those vacancies.”

New Police Chief Mark Farrall discusses policing in Newark
Acting Chief Mark Farrall will take over as full time Chief Feb. 1.

Farrall said they could lose as many as four more officers in the coming months to other agencies, retirement or officers leaving the police force altogether.

“It’s going to take a while, but we’re going to keep chipping away and make ourselves as marketable as we can.”

The Newark PD has Contracted with Arizona-based media company Epic Productions to create a marketing campaign that includes a new website and several recruitment videos.

When asked if the Newark PD needed to be at full capacity, Farrall said they have had to reduce or disband several specialized units within the department in order to have enough officers to respond to radio calls.

He added he wants the department to better reflect the community at large and hopes for a diverse pool of applicants.

Mark Arehart is an award-winning reporter/producer. Before returning to Delaware, Arehart was a reporter for WKSU and Ideastream Public Media in Northeast Ohio. He previously hosted Morning Edition and covered the arts scene for Delaware Public Media. He has worked for KNKX in Seattle, Kansas Public Radio, and KYUK in Bethel, Alaska.