Officer retention has become a pressing issue in modern policing as voluntary resignations reach unprecedented levels. Police agencies continue to face challenges recruiting new personnel, a difficulty compounded by the impending retirements of the Baby Boomer generation. Despite the increased risk of officer separation during the initial years of employment, few scholars have explored the factors linked to officer retention during this period. In this study, we build on an existing line of research examining the retention within the Charleston (SC) Police Department (CPD). We use ten years of hiring and employment data to test whether the number and type of assignment(s) officers receive early in their careers are associated with the likelihood of officer separation. Findings indicate that the number of assignments officers have in their initial five years with the agency has a significant association with their likelihood of retention. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
(Publisher abstract provided.)