Jan. 29--Dallas officials set ambitious goals for hiring police and firefighters this fiscal year after moving past the pension troubles that drained the departments of hundreds of experienced public safety workers.
But after three months, only one of the departments appears on track to hit its target.
Dallas Fire-Rescue has 115 recruits in its training academy, and commanders believe the goal of 241 new hires this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, is achievable after making changes to the department's hiring processes.
"We're on track to definitely hit it, barring any unforeseen circumstances," said Assistant Chief Dominique Artis.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Police Department has hired just 39 trainees so far this fiscal year. The department's goal is to hire 250 recruits by Sept. 30. Assistant City Manager Jon Fortune, who oversees the police and fire departments, said that remains the goal, and officials will "do everything we can" to reach it.
"We're a little behind where I'd like to be this early in the year, but we have some strategies that will help us recover and get caught up," he said.
The number was a lofty target -- albeit more reasonable than the previous year. The last time the department hired 250 people was in 2010, when it brought 284 officers into the fold. That was also during a hiring spree amid an economic recession.
Fortune said he hasn't put his finger on why DFR has had better luck hiring than the police.
But Artis said one of his best friends growing up is now a Dallas police officer, and they talk about the differences frequently. Artis said the last few years of controversies about policing tactics have made the profession look less appealing to applicants.
"It's just a trend we're seeing out there," Artis said.
Executive Assistant Police Chief David Pughes put part of the blame on perks that suburban departments are offering to recruits who might otherwise come to Dallas. And others looking for a career as a first responder might choose life in the fire service because it's more flexible, he said.
"Part of what they're interested in is quality of life, free time, and the fire department scheduling allows for a lot of that," Pughes said.
Dallas is already increasing starting pay every year, and the police department is reviewing its selection process for applicants to see if certain disqualifiers can be thrown out. For instance, police officials have previously mentioned disregarding some past drug use.
"Just like any business, if you're not competitive with the other people around you, you'll end up losing," Pughes said, "so we're going to have to make some changes."
Pughes said the department's attrition has at least slowed. The department lost 158 officers by this time last year as those who stayed battled an uptick in violent crimes. Pughes said so far this fiscal year, 74 officers have left the department.
"Things are looking much brighter so far in 2018," Pughes told members of the City Council's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee on Monday.
Last year, problems with the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System drove the high attrition rates. The system was on track for insolvency within 10 years, and some believed the city might try to let it languish rather than throw it an expensive life raft. The benefit cuts and contribution hikes in the legislative fix also prompted retirements.
Police and fire officials don't know if this month might bring a final big wave of retirements. But the pension fund, while still not in great health, is at least stable now.
The effects of the exodus linger, though. In three months, Dallas Fire-Rescue has already eaten up more than half of its overtime budget for the fiscal year, which fire officials say is to help cover for all the lost retirees. Fire Chief David Coatney told council members in the committee meeting Monday that the trainees' April graduation will "substantially reduce" the overtime usage.
Increasing the frequency of test dates and allowing rolling application periods -- instead of once a year -- has helped, Coatney said. Dallas Fire-Rescue has received more than 2,100 applications since August. The department received fewer than 1,500 applications in all of fiscal year 2016.
But Coatney said he fears that testing applicants every two weeks could strain the city's Civil Service Department. Inclement weather could also set back some of the physical tests. And Jim McDade, president of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, said he's worried that the department isn't teaching trainees enough about department-specific policies in a rush to get them certified and into stations.
Assistant Chief Ted Padgett, Coatney's chief of staff, said the department has tweaked its training as needed. But he said it now appears training gaps are more pronounced because in the past, a station might only get one rookie at a time.
Now, with so many new firefighters and officers showing up at stations to replace experienced retirees, more on-the-job training is necessary, Padgett said.
"These are unprecedented times for us as a fire service," he said.
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