The Dallas City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to expand the entry-level hiring requirements for Dallas Police Officer Trainees.
The resolution passed by the city council states that Dallas Police Officer Trainees are now required to be at least 21 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and have a minimum of 36 months of full-time consecutive employment experience.
Although the vote in favor of the resolution was unanimous, the council spent a significant amount of time debating a potential amendment to the resolution.
Council Member Adam Bazaldua of District 7 proposed an amendment to reduce the minimum employment requirement, suggesting that the resolution only require 24 consecutive months instead of 36 months.
“I think that removing barriers to increase our hiring goals and make it more accessible for more diverse communities to serve in our police forces is critical,” he said.
“And in meeting our goals, but also in promoting community policing and 21st-century policing. With that said, as a former educator and a high school teacher at that, I know that there’s very few 21-year-olds who can tout a 36-month consecutive employment experience.”
Bazaldua further explained that reducing the minimum requirement would allow more people to apply for the police academy, creating more jobs and helping improve the city’s safety.
However, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn of District 12 strongly opposed the amendment, saying that the quality of applicants is the most important aspect of this resolution.
“This is not about diversity. This is not about community policing. And it’s ridiculous to even say those words associated with a hiring requirement,” she said.
“The Public Service Board recommended the three years. The full Public Safety Committee recommended the three years. This is a best practice number, not just something that’s pulled out of somebody’s head.”
Council Member Gay Donnell Willis of District 13 echoed these sentiments, explaining that a certain level of maturity is required to begin the process of becoming a police officer in Dallas.
“It recognizes that some people may not come out of high school and have a pathway into college and go into the workplace. And I think there was also very careful examination about what that work experience would look like. But we definitely need to have the maturity for someone who is in this kind of role.”
Following nearly an hour of discussion about the potential amendment, the council voted against the change and chose to keep the minimum number of consecutive months employed at 36.