The Charleston Police Department is struggling to recruit officers and have experienced loss of staff to other smaller agencies that pay moreThe department’s roughly $57,000 starting salary leaves it behind Beckley, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg and Wheeling along with some even smaller communities. Charleston Police Chief Scott Dempsey said his department is shorter on staff than normal, which is part of a nationwide trend. Councilwoman Snodgrass is pushing for a separate raise for the city’s officers.