POST FALLS, Idaho — As the city's population swells, the Post Falls Police Department grapples with a severe staffing shortage, forcing officers into grueling 12-hour shifts with no overlap.
Officer Ryan Dalke, who juggles multiple roles within the department, has witnessed the strain firsthand. "It's been kind of a downhill slide in the past few years," he said. "Six months ago, we had fewer employees than when I was hired in 2018. With how much the city is growing, it was a shrinking department. Our calls for service were increasing, but we have fewer people to handle them."
The department's lowest point saw a shortage of 13 officers — about 30% of its sworn force. In response, the Post Falls City Council approved hourly wage increases of up to $6 in December 2023, bringing entry-level pay to $30.60 per hour.
To read the full story from our partners, the Coeur d'Alene Press, click this link.
MORE ON POST FALLS POLICE: Family, friends remember Post Falls Police officer Nicolas McDaniel (Nov. 2023)
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