PPD is working on solving staffing shortage
By Terry Murry on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Police Chief Chuck Byram says there could be some relief to the severe staffing shortage his agency is facing. It just takes time to fill the three vacancies. Four people, including one already certified officer, have applied to PPD and went through the assessment process and did extremely well.
“The process entails if they’re not a certified officer to take a written test,” he said. “Then they run an obstacle course and go through an oral interview process.”
The obstacle course is the same one they will have to run at the police academy if they are hired. The certified officer was only required to go through the interview process.
“We’re going to send all four of these individuals through the background check process,” Byram said. “If all four come out of the backgrounds as being fit for our department, then I may request to overfill by one position.”
The uncertified candidates would have to complete training at the academy and local training as well, so they would not be on their own for several months. Byram said he might request all four be hired in anticipation of another job opening up over the coming year.
