Atlanta Police holding job fairs to find 150 recruits

The guy with the tattoo on his neck? Get it removed or apply elsewhere.

In response to an urgent need to put more officers on the streets, APD is holding a series of job fairs to help fill the ranks. Deputy Chief George N. Turner, said with openings, natural attrition and retirements, the department needs to hire 150 officers by the end of the year.

“We need bodies,” he said.

But not just any bodies.

Turner said it could take thousands of applicants to get 150 qualified people.

So the more Sanders talks, the more people leave — escorted out by officers with a “Good luck.”

“We are very specific in what we are looking for,” Turner said.

After about 20 were eliminated, the rest took cognitive tests in reading, writing and pre-algebra. Later, they had criminal and background checks. Medical and psychological tests will come soon. And this is before any of them is admitted in the police academy.

“They are seeing their futures if they can make it past this process,” said recruiting supervisor Sgt. Melvin Mitchell. “They are asking if their moral character will allow them to be hired and placed in the academy.”

Turner said the department is working to get a class into the police academy by mid-September. In a good year, the department is running three classes — on different levels — at a time. Currently, there is one set of cadets in training, scheduled to be ready to patrol the streets in November.

In a down economy, being a police officer seems to have its benefits. In an Op-Ed piece to the AJC earlier this month, Chief Richard Pennington noted that Atlanta police officers are among the highest paid in the region, with expanded health benefits and pensions.

One hopeful is 23-year-old restaurant manager Chris Welch. While the rest were taking their tests, he and several others were excused because they had already taken the SAT.

“I want to do something with a purpose. Being in management didn’t feel right,” said Welch, who said he also has a background in martial arts. “Today was pretty tedious, but I feel good about it. I think I will make it.”

Standing in the back of the now quiet room as the applicants took their first test, Mitchell said he feels optimistic — but realistic about what he sees.

“If you need 100 officers, you are going to have to have to see at least 1,000 people,” Mitchell said. “But there are always exceptions. So who knows? Today, everybody might make it.”

The APD will hold job fairs Saturday and Tuesday. Log on to www.atlantapd.org to get more information, download an application and find out the minimum requirements.