They are understaffed because of absolutely ridiculous hiring standards. My wife was trying to become one, just the applications are 30+ pages. Every detail of every aspect of your work history is requested. You had a spouse smoke weed once in 2004, you better list it. Every traffic ticket needs to be listed. Already diagnosed anxiety/depression, that's almost guaranteed a no. Pass a lie detector confirming every aspect of your application. You get the idea.

She was in the top 5% of all applicants during the skills tests in multiple cities. She was denied each time because I USED TO smoke weed years ago. She volunteered hair samples from myself and her to prove we were clean. Still said no. The cops joked that it was easier to become a cop than a 911 dispatch.