The Dallas Police Department is tapping into its Wild West roots to help boost recruitment, announcing that officers can now wear cowboy hats while on duty. The policy change is optional but highly publicized, with the department leaning into hashtags like #cowboyhat and #wearehiring. At the same time, Dallas PD has lowered educational requirements, a move that sparked questions about whether the department is prioritizing image over quality.Commentators are split on the change. “It’s Dallas,” Jerry Granata said, noting that cowboy hats are already part of law enforcement uniforms in several western states. He framed the move as cultural branding, not a major concern. Chauncey Thompson pointed out that even deputies in Riverside County sometimes wear cowboy hats, adding that most citizens care more about effective policing than uniforms. But he emphasized the underlying issue: “What you’re saying is we really need help. We just don’t have enough law enforcement officials and we…..