You are the chief of a small police service of 113 officers and 35 support staff for a population of 60,000 in Northern BC. The town has a limited industry of paper and pulp mills and mining with most of the town working in this area. There are 3 high schools and 10 elementary schools and one college to serve the town. The unemployment rate is 12% and the are approx. 237 people unhoused and the local hospital documents approx. 700 people addicted to fentanyl and other drugs. The median income of the average family is $62,000 and the price of a single-family home is $645,000 dollars. You have 8 retirements upcoming in the next 14 months and have 4 vacancies already which the mayor has agreed to fill immediately. There are 10 spots available at the JIBC for your department to fill recruit spots but they must be filled in the next 4 months or you lose them and will not be able to fill any JIBC spots for 18 monthsleaving you with a high vacancy rate. The average calls for service for a 24-hour shift covered by 12 police officers is 57-112 depending on the day of the week. The Town has a 32% FN population.

1. As a police leader, what is your strategy to hire?