City Council is considering eliminating experience requirements to become a Dallas police officer.

DALLAS – City Dallas is considering downskilling to become Dallas Police Officer.

But some Dallas City Council members reject this idea.

Right now to become Dallas Police Officerrequires either college credit, experience in the United States Armed Forces, or a TCOLE peace officer license.

Under the new proposal, no experience will be required.

For eight years the company Dallas Police Department struggles to recruit and retain police officers.

The latest strategy recommended by the city’s Civil Service Board is to allow high school graduates or those with a GED to apply without the need for college credit or experience.

“We are competing for limited talent and limited interest in sworn positions,” said Jared Davis of the city’s Department of Civil Service. “It’s like sales: the more you put into your sales funnel, the better results you’ll get by hiring quality candidates.”

Right now, there are several ways to become a Dallas police officer:

• You can transfer from another department
• must have three years of service in the armed forces
• have 45-60 college credit hours, depending on age, with a 2.0 GPA.

“For me, it’s not about what you learn, it’s about are you growing up? Do you have any other experience? You have to show up, get your grades, work with the teacher,” said board member Gay Donnell-Willis.

While applicants can transfer from another department without any college credits, board member Kara Mendelsohn said their qualifications will be experience in that department.

“I’ll just say it. I don’t like this proposal at all,” she said. “I don’t want us to lower the standards for police officers.

While Austin and San Antonio only require a high school diploma or GED, cities like Arlington and Plano require a bachelor’s degree.

“This is something that the civil service board has supported and we think it will be a step in the right direction to expand recruiting opportunities,” Davis said.

Mendelssohn disagreed.

“We’re not talking about any job here where someone off the street is doing the job of a clerk,” she said. “We are giving someone a gun and the ability to kill other people. I will not support reducing it.”

The Public Safety Committee said there are still too many questions to bring the proposal to a vote of the full City Council. There will likely be another briefing in December.