Chief: Services may be cut if Wichita Falls police force can't attract officers
The Wichita Falls Police Department is falling further behind in staffing and may have to consider cutting some services if pay doesn’t improve.
That was the message from Chief Manuel Borrego at a recent work session of city councilors who must adopt a new budget in the next three months.
Borrego said his department is having trouble getting people to just come to take the test to become officers. He said in the past, hundreds would apply.
“Out of our last test, we hired four people,” Borrego said during Tuesday's workshop. “That’s not getting us to where we need, and we’re getting further and further behind in hiring.”
The chief said he currently has nine vacancies and expects two more by the end of the year. By adjusting for shortages, he said the department has about 20 officers not working the streets or in support roles.
“I’m not saying we need to be the highest paying department — we would never ask for that — but I think we have even gotten behind even a sister city like Abilene,” Borrego said.
“We can’t really compete with the Metroplex," he said. "I’ve never intended that, but if we want to look realistically at what good pay is, just look at a sister city and try to get us to that level. If we can’t do it in one year, we at least need to do it in two, or I don’t think we can last without having to cut services at some point.”
He said the city offered $5,000 incentive bonuses to attract experienced officers but didn’t get much response. Now the department offers that bonus to anyone who makes it into the police academy.
The lure for experienced officers is now $10,000 bonuses.
Borrego said the department has even adjusted rules to allow tattoos and beards.
He also noted Wichita Falls is distant from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
“You’ve got to really have a reason to want to come here and be a police officer,” Borrego said.
His remarks echo those of Steven Ginger, president of the Wichita Falls Police Officers Association.
Ginger has addressed the City Council twice recently to warn that local academies are producing fewer officers, and bigger cities are luring potential officers away from Wichita Falls.
Like Borrego, he warned that if something didn't change, services might have to be reduced.
According to the city’s website, local police trainees start at $52,603 annually and earn $60,902 when they're on the streets. Officers who stay and are promoted through the ranks can earn more than $120,000 when they reach the higher levels.
Councilors are beginning work on a new budget that will be affected by moderating property values increases for taxation purposes and the anticipation of lower sales tax revenue.
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This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Chief: Services may be cut if WFPD can't attract officers
