ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) — Interest in the Ithaca Police Department is rising.

Alderperson George McGonigal says officers from other regions are reaching out.

“We’re getting a lot more interest from what they call lateral applications — people who are police officers now in other municipalities who are applying to come to Ithaca,” he says. “We’ve got a huge hole to make up. I think there’s maybe 15 vacancies, but it looks a lot brighter than it did a year ago, or even six months ago.”

McGonigal adds one incoming officer will soon graduate from the police academy.