Texas Looking For New Police Officers In Colo. Springs

In a time when few are hiring, some is, but it is not in Colorado Springs.

Lubbock, TX is hiring new police officers and they are advertising with a large billboard drivers can see as the come into Colorado Springs off of Interstate 25.

Police in Lubbock said the draw of Colorado is the large pool of potential candidates with military backgrounds.

“We’re keying in on people that we feel like would mesh well with what we’re looking for: the military. Which would be one of the reasons why we’ve got our signs up in Colorado.” said Mickey Chambliss, Lubbock PD Recruiting Sgt.

Starting pay in Lubbock is $42,000 and $58,000 in Colorado Springs, but when cost of living is factored in the pay is comparable.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said it is not concerned the advertisement will be negative to their potential candidate pool, and spokesperson Barbara Miller said Lubbock’s idea is very innovative.

“I think it is wonderful how they are reaching out to the other areas because you want to get a melting pot for your police department,” said Miller.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said more money is always needed, but that it will continue to hire the best candidates whenever they have openings available.

“I think everyone would want more officers out there but the officers that we have are so skilled that they really perform above average,” said Miller.

The Colorado Springs Police Department said that despite not advertising, like Lubbock, the response is always in the hundreds when it hosts an academy.