Roll Call: The pros and cons of lateral transfers. Police departments must carefully weigh both

As police departments across the country face unprecedented staffing shortages, lateral transfers – officers moving from one agency to another – have become a go-to solution.

On paper, the benefits are obvious: experienced officers require less training, can be deployed quickly and help departments avoid the high costs of recruiting and training new hires. But beneath the surface, lateral transfers carry hidden costs and long-term implications that every community and police leader must consider.

The allure of experience

In today’s competitive hiring environment, police agencies are marketing themselves like professional sports teams. Signing bonuses, college tuition reimbursement, take-home squads, flexible assignments and even utility stipends for officers’ families now are common.

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