Despite HPD's recruiting efforts, the staffing shortage the department has experienced for years continues.
In fact, the latest class at the academy graduated just 65 cadets. And it gets worse. Doug Griffith with the Houston Police Officers Union says some of those new officers have already left the department; for higher paying jobs at other law enforcement agencies.
"Compared to other departments we are on the very low end of the pay scale," he said. "It's something we are going to have to address."
And that will happen sooner than you think. The union's contract with the city is up for renegotiation in 2025.
"The Mayor has promised he's going to make us one of the highest paid departments in the state," Griffith stated.
The current base salary for cadets is $42,000, and city officials recently approved a $10,000 hiring incentive for new officers.