Staring down the barrel of the gun, the Dallas Police Department has not only met but also exceeded its recruitment goals. The feat, celebrated by the city’s council, was made possible through a strategic blitz hiring effort with lowered minimum application requirements and annual bonus incentives.
Between September 2024 and October 2025, the department was tasked with hiring 300 new officers; they welcomed an additional 30 more than needed, according to Jordan Colunga, deputy chief of police, in the Tuesday Public Safety Committee briefing. DPD has made a concerted effort to recruit, touring across the country to poach officers from other cities, rolling out a high-paying referral program, and honing the department’s brand.
“DPD has a lot to offer,” Colunga said. “This is the big league. This isn’t JV. This is varsity ball here. If you want to come and be a cop and you want to learn how to be a cop, this is the place to come. I think as we continue to push that and we sell our narrative of who we are, we sell our brand as far as who we are, people want to be a part of that.”…