Sapulpa Police Looking For Applicants To Join Department

The Sapulpa Police Department said while response times aren't being impacted, there aren't enough officers out on the streets.

The Sapulpa Police Chief retired this summer, a captain retired a few days ago and an officer just put in his two-week notice after finding another job.

That's why the department said it needs more applicants. 

"Law enforcement's one of those things where you need to have the patience to listen to what people are telling what their complaint is, and then work through that," said Sapulpa Police Department Lt. Troy Foreman. 

Foreman has been with the department for about 15 years. 

Maj. Pete Sellers has been with the department almost twice as long and has a simple reason for why he loves his job.

"You get to see something new every day," Sellers said. "New people, different people every day." 

But he said with recent officer-involved shootings and increased tension between police and people in many communities across the country, candidates who might love the work are hesitant to apply.

"Second guess when you talk to some people, 'you know I thought about that but with all the drama that's going on, I just don't know if it's worth it for me to get into that line of work,'" Sellers said. 

Sellers said the numbers haven't been this low in all his time here. 

There are 39 on the force right now and the department can have up to 43.

Ideally, they would like to have 48, but city budget cuts have frozen several positions. 

As for Foreman's position, it won't be open anytime soon because he plans to stick around. 

"I do enjoy coming out here and trying to help make the community a better place," Foreman said.