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Cibolo police present recruitment plan: cadet sponsorship, lateral bonuses and a social-media push
Summary
Chief AJ Andres and Sgt. Paul Zickas outlined a new recruitment strategy that includes sponsoring police cadets through academy classes, targeting military veterans and local college job fairs, and using a new recruitment video. Council asked staff for options on lateral sign-on bonuses and a quarterly overtime breakdown.
CIBOLO, Texas — The Cibolo Police Department outlined a multi-pronged recruitment plan that combines sponsored cadet pathways, targeted outreach to veterans and college students, and more active social-media recruitment as the city works to fill multiple patrol and SRO vacancies.
Chief AJ Andres and Sgt. Paul Zickas told council that the city’s new policy to sponsor police cadets through local academies will pay trainees approximately $52,000 (including benefits) while they attend six-month academy classes (for example, ACOG and San Antonio College) and require a multi-year service commitment after graduation. The department has received hundreds of applications since posting the cadet job description and had multiple candidates moving through background checks.
The department also plans to: - Recruit laterally (licensed officers) and seek quotes for potential sign-on bonuses or other incentives that would make Cibolo competitive with regional agencies. - Attend military transition job fairs and local-college career events to identify candidates already inclined toward public service. - Expand social-media outreach and use a short recruitment video produced by department staff to showcase community-oriented policing and quality of life in Cibolo.
Sgt. Zickas said the department has added an extra oral-board step for sponsored cadet applicants to give patrol officers and civilian staff greater input into hiring fit. Chief Andres said the city’s recent Prop C pay adjustment improved recruitment competitiveness but will not fully solve shortages for already-certified lateral hires; those officers often seek sign-on packages.
Council requests and follow-up: Several council members asked staff to return options and cost estimates for lateral sign-on bonuses so the council can decide whether to budget incentives to shorten vacancy periods. Council also asked for overtime reporting broken down by quarter and requested staff estimate how overtime usage compares with the cost of one-time lateral incentives.
Why it matters: The department reported multiple vacancies (patrol and SRO positions) that contribute to supervisory and shift overtime, and council members were concerned about burnout and long-term overtime budgets. Sponsoring cadets speeds some hires but requires several months for academy training; laterals can often start patrol shifts sooner if an incentive attracts them.
What happens next: Police will continue cadet sponsorship recruiting, attend job fairs and provide the council with proposed lateral-incentive options and a quarterly overtime breakdown, per council direction.
