Wichita ? Wichita law enforcement agencies are seeing a big surge in job seekers as the economy continues to sour.

Through the first three months of the year, the Wichita police department has seen applications increase more than 60 percent compared with the same period a year ago. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office says it’s seen a 70 percent increase.

The increases mirror a trend affecting law enforcement agencies across the country, including big cities like Las Vegas, Houston and Phoenix.

“I would say the economy probably does have something to do with it, but at the same time we would hope that our efforts on recruiting are making a difference,” said Capt. Nelson Mosley, director of the police training bureau. The department has received 385 applications through March, compared with 241 last year.

The sheriff’s office has received 392 applications for a commissioned officer’s position, two of which will open later this month. A year ago, the total was 232 applications.

“Part of it is, we’re getting the message out there that this is a great place to work,” Sedgwick County Sheriff Bob Hinshaw said.

In addition, the sheriff’s office has seen much less turnover among deputies at the Sedgwick County Jail. With only seven openings at the jail, Hinshaw says he can’t justify a training class for new hires.

“I do think the economy plays a big piece of that,” said Jill Pletcher, director of career services at Wichita State University.

Pletcher said bad economic times often push people toward government jobs, thinking those positions are less vulnerable to the economic pressures seen in the private sector.

Police and sheriff’s officials said they’re receiving applications from a wide range of people, including those in their late teens to those over 40.

“College or the military isn’t as good an alternative as they once were for younger people,” said Wichita State University associate economics professor Jodi Pelkowski, noting the mounting tuition costs and longer military deployments. “For the older applicants, my guess is it has something to do with the fact that the alternative jobs just aren’t out there any more.”