Study: Colorado is one of the best states to be a police officer

DENVER (KDVR) -- According to one study, Colorado's police recruitment needs should be relatively easier to fill than in other states.

Colorado police departments have had a tough time filling vacancies in the early years of the 2020s. Depending on the location, police departments are short of their authorized strength by hundreds of recruits.

Financial resource site WalletHub analyzed U.S. states' relative rankings according to federal data. Researchers derived overall scores by measuring police employment and compensation rates and growth potential, training requirements and associated state laws, and job hazards and protections.

Colorado has the seventh-highest overall score, between Ohio and Washington.

Colorado scored highly both for police opportunity and pay and for law enforcement training requirements, sixth and eighth, respectivel...