[IPAC-List] An awkward question

[Mark Hammer]

There are presently two major inquests in two of Canada's largest cities (Montreal and Vancouver), involving wrongful (or at least questionable) civilian deaths at the hands of law enforcement officers. 

Do people experience a downturn in application numbers for public sector positions, whether law enforcement, other public safety, or any other public sector positions, when there is a scandal or sour incident of some type?  I know that a report in the period following 09/11 had noted a resurgence of interest and confidence in the public service.  I was just wondering if negative incidents have an impact only on public trust, or whether the impact is also manifested in number and quality of applicants as well.

Or is this one of those things that is too bound up in regional job/labour market differences to be discernible with any degree of accuracy?

Mark Hammer
Ottawa