Houston is so short of officers the newstalk radio actually has done some "head hunting" comercials for them. Take a listen!
http://kprcradio.com/pages/audio/THEHPD1.wav http://kprcradio.com/pages/audio/THEHPD2.wav
Service jobs have historically paid low wages. You need a college education for advancement but you never get paid a fair wage. I think cops move from Dodge not because of wage but for opportunity. Perhaps it might help to get some officers point of view - Does the PD stand behind thier officers? Do they get the training they need to stay safe? Is thier equitment state of the art? There are lots of reasons cops move on. Ususally the political atmosphere will send them packin before money does. How many of your officers are
DC grown? Lots of cops want to work in thier home town and will work elsewhere till an opening they really want is available. Do ya'll have an academy at DCCC? Is it convieniant for locals to become DCPD?
From experience in
DC as a nurse I must admit the pay is much better down here. I just think if you are in a profession where college is required - there out to be some money to go with all the crummy shift work. I got that here - so when I was in
DC - I made sure I was paid if I worked anything other than days. Nurses can now get away with that - but it wasn't always like that.
I would say cops make more money at side jobs. I think my son probab makes alot more than that - but then he's in a much higher crime area, is on SWAT, and works doubles ALOT, as well as pullin lots and lots of side jobs for the refineries. Lots of good money to be made just guardin the parking lot! Ours also get paid for court time - not all departments pay for court time. It's about supportin your cops and it happens from the top. Ask the hard questions - it might not be just the city council - the chief needs to be the leader for his force. If the department is not the issue then it's time to take it to city council - the officers will be happy ya did - hell they will be happy someone cares enough to even raise the issue.