The Dallas City Council unanimously approves new hiring standards requiring all police officer recruits to be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate three years of steady, full-time work experience.
Assistant Police Chief Israel Herrera explained the change is meant “to attract more mature and dependable candidates” and that officials are looking for applicants “who have stable working history, who have shown progression, that are mature, responsible.”
Council member Paul Ridley agreed, noting, “We’re not talking about clerical jobs here; we’re talking about police officers who have guns and are out in public.”
The rule will begin as a pilot study, with city leaders reviewing recruitment data after one year to see if the requirements help address staffing challenges.
Currently Dallas has about 3,215 sworn officers — short of its charter goal of 4,000 — and aims to expand its hiring pool under the new criteria.
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