Texas Lawmakers Propose Student-loan Repayment as Incentive as Dallas, Other Cities Face Staffing Shortage

To recruit would-be cops in Texas, lawmakers have proposed a new generous incentive: a chance to eliminate tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.The Senate and House are both considering versions of the bill, which is aimed at shoring up police departments such as Dallas that have struggled to recruit and retain officers in recent years.The state’s largest law enforcement organizations have lined up behind the idea, which also has the backing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.Frederick Frazier, the legislative chairman for the Fraternal Order of Police in Texas and a first vice president with the Dallas Police Association, said he helped both the Senate and House with their bills. Frazier felt police officers deserved a loan repayment program “designed like a G.I bill" that put millions of military veterans through college.  Continue reading...