Pueblo Police Department struggles to hire new officers

PUEBLO, COLO. (KRDO) -- Pueblo city leaders say they're still having trouble hiring police officers at a time when crime is on the rise.    

According to our news partners with the Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller says that one of the issues is that no one's applying.  

Noeller says people are now less likely to apply after the George Floyd protests.    

City leaders hope voters will renew the city's 0.2% public safety tax to help out. 

Some critics say the problem is with the hiring process taking too long which is driving candidates to get a job somewhere else.