The City of Dallas is considering a new proposal to allow high school graduates with three years of stable employment to apply directly to the Dallas Police Academy even if they have no college education or formal training beyond high school.

This change is being pushed as a way to fill staffing gaps in the department. But policing is one of the most serious, high-stakes jobs in our community. Dallas voters may have approved a push toward 4,000 officers, but that doesn’t mean we should sacrifice maturity, training, or readiness just to hit a number.

We need more than bodies in uniforms. We need officers who are equipped to serve with professionalism, accountability, and emotional intelligence. That takes life experience, education, and a higher standard not a lower one.

Other cities may already allow this, but Dallas has an opportunity to lead by setting the bar higher, not racing to the bottom. If the city wants to expand the talent pipeline, it should focus on long-term investment in community policing programs, mentorship, and educational pathways that prepare young people to lead, not rush them into a badge.

We’re calling on the Dallas City Council to slow down this proposal and ensure that any new pathway into policing is paired with rigorous screening, real training, and community input. Safety starts with trust and trust starts with high standards.

Sign this petition if you believe the Dallas Police Department should grow the right way, not the rushed way.