lot of dis-function within
staffing is being done in an abusive and dangerous way
Protests and Holidays Strain Thin DPD to Breaking Point, Officer SaysQuote:
........Novello, who's been consistently outspoken as he's neared the end of his three-decade career on things like criminal justice and drug reform, wants the mayor to do something about the staffing levels at the Dallas Police Department. Attrition and decreased hiring have put officers in an especially dangerous position, Novello says, which has come to a head several times over the past couple of weeks as severe officer shortages have driven up response times in and around downtown Dallas........
..........."There's eight of us there — keep in mind, the normal staffing level is supposed to be between 29-32 [officers] — but there's eight of us," Novello says. "Then they come back and say, 'We've got demonstrations, we need five of you guys to report up north,' leaving three of us to answer calls..........
they seem to have a problem getting millennials to go for the staffing extremes and willing to do anything but adequate staffing levels, wages, and pensions.
Dallas police chief trying new strategies to fill officer shortageQuote:
.........Both the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue are struggling to find people who want to protect and serve. Both chiefs told city council members that recruiting millennials has posed as a challenge.
"We have nights, weekends and holidays — not attractive to millennials who want all days off and to be the chief in six months,” Chief Hall said. “We recognize that is a challenge."
"The other challenge — they're job hopping every five years,” added Dallas Fire Chief David Coatney.
Both chiefs said they're also challenged with starting pay that is lower than neighboring cities.
Chief Hall, who is faced with a four percent increase in violent crime year-to-year, needs to hire 250 cops this fiscal year. She said she's behind schedule. To catch up, she's come up with some new ideas.
In January, Chief Hall will roll out a program that will give a total of four to six days off for officers that recruit someone who is hired and graduates from the academy. She plans to start recruiting Dallas ISD students and hiring them as public service officers until they can be peace officers at age 19-and-a-half. She says it is within her power as chief to hire applicants who would currently not qualify because they admit to infractions like minor drug use...........
planning more of the same staffing issues and rigidity and disfunction.
Budget Battle Underway In Dallas Over Police Pay, StaffingQuote:
........This is typically the case every year around this time. The city manager presents a budget and no one is satisfied with it… especially police officers and firefighters who say their ranks will continue to dwindle to unsafe levels of this budget is approved.
On Tuesday in a budget work session, Mayor Mike Rawlings said he would not support a tax increase.
Some council members see that as the only way to address below-average pay that’s driving police officers to other departments........cut....
..........There is also a budget proposal to suspend paramedic training for a year in Dallas Fire-Rescue.
Firefighters say that will cause its veterans to retire or leave for other cities.........