Local News

• Jan 7, 2008 6:06 pm US/Central
• Digg | Facebook | E-mail

  Close WindowE-mail This Page

  DPD Lowers Drug Standards For Recruits

  Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

  ---

  • Recipient E-mail:* 
  • • Your Name:* 
    • Your E-mail:* 
  • Add a Message:
  •   Send me a copy of this e-mail.

  • Type the characters in this picture:* Click here to refresh with new letters

  ---

  The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

  Send E-mail

  | Print

DPD Lowers Drug Standards For Recruits

Dallas police officials say the department is desperate for recruits. Currently less than 10-percent of those who apply for the job can be hired, but that could soon change as a result of a new policy on drug use.

As it stands the Dallas Police Department is in need of more officers, with nearly 400 slated to be hired by October.

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle says he's committed to hiring the 'best of the best' as Dallas police officers, but admits that is difficult to do especially when you factor in the department's strict policy on past drug use.

Kunkle says the new policy, lessening the rules on past drug usage, should help increase the field of qualified police recruit candidates. "I don't think this is going to affect the quality of our applicants at all," says Kunkle. "It just gives us a broader pool to choose from."

The past policy automatically excluded any applicant, who admitted to using a hard drug, like cocaine or LSD, after the age of 15. The new policy allows for one-time hard drug use, up to the age of 21.

"There's kids out there today that have made those decisions and I want to make sure they understand that there's still an opportunity for you," said Dallas City Councilmember Jerry Allen.

Not everyone agrees that individuals with a past drug history should be eligible to join the police force. "I personally feel that the current policy was the appropriate policy, but not everybody felt the same way," said Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia.

Five out of seven public safety committee members voted to pass the motion. "But what message they're sending to the young people, and even to us police officers, is that drugs are okay," said Glenn White, Dallas Police Association President. "We should set an example as role models. We don't do drugs, we don't do hard drugs, and we don't need those people as police officers."

Under the new policy the one-time drug usage had to have happened at least 10 years before the person applies for a police position.  The policy now mirrors those already in place for the City of Fort Worth Police Department.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)