WASHINGTON — It’s weird enough that the Scottsdale, Ariz., Police Department is trolling for recruits in Washington, 2,300 miles away from the posh desert community.
Weirder still is where Scottsdale is looking for a few good men and women: in the restrooms of Nationals Park.
Perched above the urinals in the men’s rooms at the new ballpark, conveniently at eye level, are posters reading, “The Scottsdale Police Department Is Hiring,” illustrated with a photo of a lush desert scene. The ads are in the ladies’ rooms of the stadium too.
The department, which has about 25 vacancies, is spending $36,000 this year to put help-wanted ads in ballpark and sports arena restrooms across the country.
The posters have gone up in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park too, among other places.
“It’s a conversation starter,” said Greg Carlin, Scottsdale police recruiting officer. “Maybe you’ll see it and go back to your seat and tell your friends, ‘I just saw an ad for police officers in the bathroom.’ And your friend might say, ‘You’re kidding. My nephew is trying to get on the force.’ ”
Carlin says his department has gotten lots of calls about the ads since they began popping up in stadiums but has hired only one officer as a direct result.
