SAN ANTONIO – In the past, recruiting drives conducted by the San Antonio Police Department produced respectable numbers of applicants.
But nothing like a campaign last weekend when 199 men and women applied to join the ranks of SAPD. And in Dallas, where five police officers were ambushed earlier this month, the number of applicants is up a whopping 344 percent.
“We believe there’s an influx, yes, due to – in light of – the incidents in Dallas and Baton Rouge,” said Lt. Steven Trujillo, director of recruiting at SAPD.
“I think people want to become a part of something big, something rewarding and positive,” Trujillo said. “Something to give back to the community.”
In addition to the idealistic reasons, there’s the practical aspect of joining the police department.
“We have a $5,000 hiring bonus for those who want to be SAPD officers,” Trujillo said.
The next step for applicants who made the cut comes on Sept. 26, when the next cadet class begins training.