Dallas Police Chief Blames Slow Recruiting on Millennials

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) — It’s no secret that the Dallas Police Department is having trouble recruiting and keeping new officers.

Now, Police Chief Renee Hall says the issue might be the youngest generation of recruits.

The Chief spoke in front of the city’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee on Monday.

She says she needs to hire 250 new recruits during the fiscal year.

To do it, the chief says she’s looking at everything from expanding a down payment assistance program for recruits buying a home in Dallas, to allowing officers to take patrol cars home.

But hall says the job itself might be a hard sell for younger recruits.

“We have nights, weekends and holidays,” Hall said. “And those are some of the things that are not necessarily attractive to the millennials who want all days off and to be the chief in six months. That’s challenge for us.”

Starting salary for new recruits is around $49,000 per year.

That’s less than other departments in our area.