For years, the Dallas Police Department has been losing more officers than it hired. By fall 2024, the situation worsened after voters approved a measure requiring the force to maintain at least 4,000 officers — hundreds more than its 2010 peak.
In response, Dallas officials removed the requirement that applicants have college credits, aiming to make it easier to fill vacancies, according to a recent USA Today report.
Dallas isn’t alone. Cities including Chicago, Memphis, Louisville, and New Orleans have made similar moves, part of a national trend toward easing education requirements. The outlet pointed out that a 2017 survey of nearly 1,000 departments found more than 80% require only a high school diploma…