The cities of Houston and Dallas have always had a bit of a rivalry. People from Houston cannot stand people from Dallas, people from Dallas cannot stand Houston. One has the oil money, the other has the finance sector of money. Dallas people tend to view Houstonians as blue collar, Houstonians view Dallas people as pretentious. It is a tale as old as time.
So, in keeping with that bit of rivalry between Texas' two largest cities, the Dallas Police Department has ramped up recruiting efforts in Houston. They have recently put up billboards, advertising a new recruiting seminar they have to bring officers to Dallas. They say things like 'tired of Houston?' and promise a better police life in Dallas. Funny, considering both have abhorrent rates of crimes.
But where the recruiting is going wrong is that Houston Police are no longer in need of leaving. A recently approved pay increase for HPD brings officers to being one of the top paid anywhere around, and cements most into their place.
Police Union President Doug Griffith says this recruitment tactic is nothing new around the state, as departments grapple with shortages.
"Houston, we are already 1,200 to 1,500 down where we should be...everyone is going to do what they need to do to recruit," he says.
The officers in Houston have seen it all, as most major city officers have in their jobs. Crime continues running rampant throughout the city, and that has given loads of experience to Houston's finest.
That adds another layer of desire to stay, as well as add to Dallas' want to poach Houston officers.
"Houston is obviously much better than Dallas, that shows in nothing more than our football teams...but I digress...the Houston Police Department leads the nation in what we do," Griffith says. "Training, our expertise...it will not work. Our officers are true blue, and they will stay exactly where they are."
Dallas Police have offered what they call a 'shortened lateral academy' for experienced officers, with salaries starting around $91,000 a year. Now, some officers have desired to leave for suburbs around the state which pay more and have less violent crime.
But the recent pay raise for Houston's officers put them in another class, where a move to Dallas might be a pay cut.
"Our contract speaks for itself...we will be the highest paid in the state. We need that to retain and recruit, and with this contract, we will do that," says Griffith.
So, try as they might, Dallas is going to have a hard time poaching any Houston police officers to their city.
Photo: Houston Landing