The Dallas Police Department is holding a multi-day hiring event from June 10-12. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Dallas Police Department is looking to capitalize on the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s spotlight by hosting a three-day hiring event ahead of the upcoming tournament. The DPD’s recruiting efforts will be held from June 10-12 at Gilley’s, located at 1135 Botham Jean Boulevard. Deputy Chief Jordan Colunga is overseeing the hiring initiative, and he told CBS News, “Gilley’s is a Honky Tonk staple of Dallas, Texas,” making it the perfect place to set up shop.
Deputy Chief Colunga says the department wanted to hold this hiring event when more visitors and residents were in the area for the World Cup to increase attention for their efforts. “We want that broad net to get people’s eyes on us. We need to hire officers. We are hiring and that’s our motto, the three words: ‘we are hiring,’ and it’s going to be a huge event.” He said the DPD has a goal of hiring 750 officers within the next two years, and they’re prepared to welcome up to 600 people during this three-day period.
As of writing, 31 people have registered in advance. A post on the DPD’s official Facebook page lists several ways for people to register, including via text and QR code. In terms of the type of individuals they’re looking to hire, Deputy Chief Colunga said, “Our main thing with what we want out of a police officer and recruit is somebody with a high motor that wants to come here and serve the community.”
To help determine if someone has what it takes to join the department’s ranks, interviews will be held on-site at Gilley’s, as well as background checks, polygraphs, and physical testing. This makes the actual hiring process easier, too, as selected recruits will have a better chance of landing a spot at an upcoming academy class this summer if they’ve already completed these crucial steps.
In addition to the interviews and testing, the Dallas Police Department will hold demonstrations to showcase its drone technology, SWAT equipment, and helicopter unit.
The DPD has been struggling to actively find recruits in recent years
One of the primary reasons why the Dallas Police Department is making such a massive, sustained effort to hire new recruits in a few weeks is because it’s been a bit of an uphill battle to bring people onto the team in recent years. During a previous meeting with city leaders, the department discussed several staffing strategies to help bring fresh faces onto the force. According to Hoodline, around $22 million will be put toward covering hiring costs for 350 officers this year and 400 in 2027. Those funds will also go toward existing personnel costs.
Law enforcement officials find the hiring need particularly pressing during large events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup which require extra police presence and diligence to keep visitors and residents safe. To help appeal to a wider audience, the DPD has amended one previous qualification—36 consecutive months of employment relevant to the job can substitute college degrees. Other requirements include needing to be a US citizen and being in possession of either a high school diploma or a G.E.D.
For a complete list of qualifications for the Dallas Police Department, as well as information about disqualifying factors, salary, benefits, and more, please click here.
