PRAGUE, Czech Republic, May 21 (UPI) -- The Czech government is facing a shortfall of some 3,000 police officers because salaries for the force have dropped over the last year, media said Monday.
Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer said police officers leaving the force are outnumbering those joining it, Prague Radio reported.
In a television appearance Sunday, Langer said the police force totals 46,000 officers but needs an additional 3,000 people.
He said his ministry could not lure more people to join police because of wage issues. A law that went into force in January keeps officers from getting paid for the first 150 hours of overtime.
Monthly salaries for most positions in the police force have decreased in January when compared with last year, the radio report said.
