In 2024, the International Association of Chiefs of Police conducted a nationwide Recruitment and Retention Survey, measuring staffing levels and hiring challenges across 1,158 U.S. law enforcement agencies. The survey found that, on average, departments were operating at just 91% of their authorized staffing. As of this month, both the Galesburg Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office report being fully staffed. Sheriff Jack Harlan says the strong partnership between the two agencies benefits the community greatly.
“Knox County is very fortunate to have a municipality who’s 100% staffed and the sheriff’s office who’s 100% staffed. So any given point in time, at night, people look around now, you’re going to see an average of maybe 14 squad cars running around between Galesburg PD, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. And I can’t say enough that the working relationship that the Galesburg Police Department, the sheriff’s office, has now is amazing. We kind of almost operate pretty close as one organization. “
For more information on the two agencies check out the Galesburg Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.
