Yes, competitive wages, proactive policing practices, and a supportive work environment are critical for recruitment and retention. The current strategy includes hiring officers with experience versus new recruits. This is due to a reduction in police candidates (see question: What type of recruiting are we doing at MATC?), a competitive labor market to maintain effective staffing, and the benefits of maintaining a consistent and experienced team. We continue to recruit and hire retired officers among our part-time ranks and our current staff includes a significant amount of professional experience.