Nerissa Pacio Oakland Police recruiter John Lois won't set up his booth at another Silicon Valley job fair. Unlike the Oakland Police Department, high-tech companies have money to spare. At any given job fair, recruiters pass out everything from stuffed animals to CD holders. Nortel Networks gives away plastic sports bottles and stress relief toys.
Cisco hands out cappuccinos and rubber superballs that light up when bounced.
The economy is very good, and with the explosion of technology in the private sector, it's getting harder and harder to recruit. The Oakland Police Department is facing an officer shortage. Lois said his department loses about four officers each month and now has only 720 out of the 748 sworn officers Lois wants hired by the end of the year. Oakland Police Patrol Captain Ralph Lacer said he faces the same problem other commanders face in the department. He never has enough officers to patrol every beat in his area, and as a result, beats go under-manned.