New research links police staffing shortages to longer 911 response rimes across California
POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND IT’S NO DIFFERENT HERE IN SACRAMENTO. NEXT YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE LESS THAN HALF OF THE OFFICERS THAT ONE ADVOCACY GROUP SAYS IT NEEDS TO SERVE THE CITY’S POPULATION. AND THIS MORNING WE WELCOME BRIAN MARVEL. HE’S THE PRESIDENT OF THE PEACE OFFICERS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA. BRIAN, GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HEY. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I KNOW RECENTLY RELEASED SOME DATA, RECENTLY DID SOME RESEARCH ON STAFFING. SO EXPLAIN HOW CALIFORNIA’S STAFFING STACKS UP TO THE REST OF THE NATION. WELL, NATIONALLY, IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM. NATIONALLY, CALIFORNIA, IT’S EVEN MORE OF A PROBLEM JUST BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE’VE BEEN FACING OVER ALL OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THERE’S THERE’S HUGE COMPETITION JUST IN HIRING PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF OCCUPATIONS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. BUT WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, THERE’S EVEN MORE COMPETITION BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE POOL THAT WE HAVE ISN’T AS GREAT AS WE’VE SEEN IN THE PAST. AND PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IF A 100 PEOPLE PUT IN FOR THE JOB, ONLY 4 OR 5 ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET INTO THE ACADEMY, AND THEN MAYBE 3 OR 4 ACTUALLY GRADUATE THE ACADEMY TO GO INTO THE FIELD TRAINING PHASE. SO THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE. ONE OF THE NOTES TO IN THE REPORT IS TALKING ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES. HOW DO THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE FEWER OFFICERS AND THE STAFFING LEVELS ULTIMATELY IMPACT RESPONSES? WELL, IT IT HAS TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON RESPONSE TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE CATEGORIZE CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMES OR CALLS. AND YOU KNOW, YOU SAID SACRAMENTO, THEY’RE GOING TO BE LESS THAN HALF OF WHERE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE. SO EVERY OFFICER THAT’S NOT WORKING THE STREET, THAT’S ONE LESS OFFICER THAT CAN’T RESPOND TO A HIGH PRIORITY CALL. NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES FOR THE VERY HIGH PRIORITY CALLS. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY BREAKING INTO MY HOUSE, LIFE SAVING THAT TYPE OF STUFF. 14 MINUTES FOR, YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF LIFE TYPE. AND A LOT OF AGENCIES ARE GOING ABOVE SEVEN MINUTES JUST TO RESPOND. SO IF SOMEBODY IS BREAKING INTO YOUR HOUSE, SEVEN MINUTES CAN SEEM LIKE AN ETERNITY. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO CHANGE? I THINK THERE’S A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE. ONE, THERE HAS TO BE A CONCERTED EFFORT TOWARDS RECRUITING AND RETAINING, RETAINING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. YOU CAN’T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ONE YEAR AND THEN TRIM BACK THE NEXT YEAR. IT’S LIKE ADVERTISING. YOU GOT TO CONTINUALLY HAVE A LOT OF FINANCES AND RESOURCES SPENT ON RECRUITING QUALIFIED PEOPLE. SECOND IS THE COMPETITIVE NATURE. YOU KNOW, COMPENSATION PLAYS A FACTOR. AND THEN TWO, WHICH IS FREE. IF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD GO OUT AND ACTUALLY SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS A GREAT PROFESSION. IT’S A JOB THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY TOUCH SOMEBODY’S LIFE AND TURN THEM AROUND COMPLETELY. AND SPEAK POSITIVELY OF THE PROFESSION. GOVERNOR NEWSOM IS DOING IT FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE CAL FIRE, AND THEY’RE HITTING RECORD NUMBERS. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT THE RESEARCH TO ULTIMATELY LEAD TO, OR TO DO? THE THE REASON WE’RE DOING THE RESEARCH ON THE STAFFING IS, IS ONE, WE WANT OUR LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IT. SO WHEN THEY’RE TALKING TO THEIR CITIES AND THEIR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. IT’S AN ISSUE OUTSIDE OF US THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT WE ALSO WANT THE STATE LEGISLATURES TO KNOW, HEY, THIS IS NOT JUST A LOCAL ISSUE. THIS IS A STATEWIDE ISSUE. IT’S A NATIONAL ISSUE. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS CALIFORNIA, WHICH I ALWAYS HEAR. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS CALIFORNIA AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE RESOLVE THIS ON THE STATE LEVEL. SO THE LOCALS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR. BRIAN, WE’RE GOING TO PUT THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR VIEWERS TO CHECK OUT. THAT WILL B
New research links police staffing shortages to longer 911 response rimes across California
Updated: 1:28 PM PST Nov 24, 2025
New data from the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) shows that severe staffing shortages in law enforcement agencies across the state are leading to longer emergency response times, leaving many Californians in crisis and waiting significantly longer for help.Using the latest employment data from the California Department of Justice, PORAC found that California averages fewer than two officers for every 1,000 residents. That’s nearly half the nationwide average of 3.5 officers per 1,000 residents.It’s a gap researchers say is directly contributing to slower response times.Read the full PORAC Report here.According to the analysis, staffing levels are the strongest predictor of response times.In counties with fewer officers, people experiencing emergencies can expect longer waits when calling 911 — and in some cases, delays lasting well beyond department goals.Only two of California’s 58 counties exceed the national average for officer-to-resident ratios, highlighting what PORAC calls a statewide crisis. Active staffing within the Sacramento Police Department is expected to drop to less than half of what PORAC says is needed to serve the growing population.The new findings build on PORAC’s research from last year, which highlighted recruitment and retention challenges in rural police departments. The 2025 update shows the issue is now affecting both urban and rural agencies — and that public perception of law enforcement is playing a significant role.PORAC leaders say the data demonstrates an urgent need for more resources, a more efficient recruitment pipeline, and efforts to improve trust and perception of the profession.The organization said it will continue working with lawmakers from both parties to find solutions that strengthen staffing and ensure that communities across California receive timely emergency response.PORAC’s President Brian Marvel joined KCRA 3 on Monday morning to discuss the findings. Watch the full interview by clicking the video above. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
New data from the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) shows that severe staffing shortages in law enforcement agencies across the state are leading to longer emergency response times, leaving many Californians in crisis and waiting significantly longer for help.
Using the latest employment data from the California Department of Justice, PORAC found that California averages fewer than two officers for every 1,000 residents. That’s nearly half the nationwide average of 3.5 officers per 1,000 residents.
It’s a gap researchers say is directly contributing to slower response times.
Read the full PORAC Report here.
According to the analysis, staffing levels are the strongest predictor of response times.
In counties with fewer officers, people experiencing emergencies can expect longer waits when calling 911 — and in some cases, delays lasting well beyond department goals.
Only two of California’s 58 counties exceed the national average for officer-to-resident ratios, highlighting what PORAC calls a statewide crisis.
Active staffing within the Sacramento Police Department is expected to drop to less than half of what PORAC says is needed to serve the growing population.
The new findings build on PORAC’s research from last year, which highlighted recruitment and retention challenges in rural police departments.
The 2025 update shows the issue is now affecting both urban and rural agencies — and that public perception of law enforcement is playing a significant role.
PORAC leaders say the data demonstrates an urgent need for more resources, a more efficient recruitment pipeline, and efforts to improve trust and perception of the profession.
The organization said it will continue working with lawmakers from both parties to find solutions that strengthen staffing and ensure that communities across California receive timely emergency response.
PORAC’s President Brian Marvel joined KCRA 3 on Monday morning to discuss the findings.
Watch the full interview by clicking the video above.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel