With fewer people applying to become police officers than in years past, unfilled positions remain a major concern for some local departments in Johnson County. The problem is due to a variety of factors, according to officials the Post talked to. Some agencies attribute their vacancies to the typical cycle of attrition as officers retire and transfer to other departments. Others are growing their forces and adding new positions that have yet to be filled. Still others say that fewer people want to become police officers for various reasons, including negative perceptions of the profession, which are exacerbating staffing challenges. Source: [...]

An ongoing lifeguard shortage could crimp city pool operations in Overland Park this summer. City officials say they are currently short the number of lifeguards they need, creating the possibility that some city pools might operate on reduced hours or remain closed entirely. This isn’t a new problem locally. Last summer, several Johnson County cities — including Roeland Park, Prairie Village and Shawnee — struggled to fill lifeguard positions and reduced pool hours as a result. That coincided with broader lifeguard shortages across the country, an issue attributed at least in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Prairie Village Post