The Dallas Police Association has voiced its opposition to Amendment U, which would require the city to hire hundreds of additional police officers. The association believes that this requirement would put the city in a challenging situation, despite a previous ballot initiative that mandated an increase in police staffing to 4,000 officers. The Dallas Police Department is now gearing up for a hiring spree, with a recent survey showing that 52% of residents view crime as a major problem.
The original proposal called for hiring 400 new officers this fiscal year, but the Dallas Public Safety Committee recently recommended a lower target of 325 hires. Interim Police Chief Michael Igo expressed concerns about pulling officers from other departments to facilitate the hiring and training process. While some council members are in favor of a higher hiring goal, others believe that the city must be strategic to ensure successful recruitment and training.
Committee Chair Cara Mendelsohn emphasized the urgency of addressing the city’s crime crisis by listening to residents and thinking outside the box in terms of recruitment strategies. Councilmember Jesse Moreno echoed this sentiment, urging the city to set higher standards for officer recruitment. The cost of hiring additional officers remains unclear, and the recommendation will be forwarded to the mayor and eventually the full Dallas City Council for consideration. The Dallas Police Department, Dallas City Council, and previous FOX 4 coverage provided information for this article.
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