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Dallas police and fire recruiting show gains; departments outline next steps to sustain momentum
Summary
Dallas Police Department reported net hiring gains in May and an eight-year staffing high; Dallas Fire-Rescue reported similar hiring momentum and plans for assessment tools and targeted outreach. Council members pressed for details on class sizes, budgets and retention measures.
The Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue told the City Council Public Safety Committee on June 3 that both departments made net hiring gains in May and presented plans they say will sustain recruiting momentum.
Dallas Police Major Polly Ashford, joined by Assistant Chief Israel Herrera, said the department lost 21 officers and hired 43 in May and is at 3,215 sworn officers — “our highest staffing level in eight years,” she said. Year to date the department has lost 108 officers and hired 201. Ashford and Herrera said two remaining academy classes for the fiscal year are expected: class 407 beginning July 16 and class 408 beginning Sept. 24. Social media and on-site recruitment events were cited as leading applicant sources.
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