Interim Dallas Police Chief Michael Igo told city lawmakers he is confident that the department could hire 280 to 300 new officers by the end of the September.

The Dallas City Council has given the green light for the Dallas Police Department to hire 300 additional officers. It’s a win for the Dallas Police Department as the city council just raised the police hiring goal this year from 250 to 300.

After two hours of intense debate, the Dallas City Council voted to do what police officials told them to do: set the police hiring goal at 300 new officers, for now.

The Dallas City Council once again lowered its expectations over increasing the police force. The requirement is something voters agreed on last November.

The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved raising police hiring goals from 250 to 300 this fiscal year, siding with recommendations from the city’s top cop and largest police association over a push from some council members to raise the new officer benchmark to 400.

Dallas Police Department officials recommended a hiring goal of 300 new officers. That staffing level could cost the city millions.

Dallas voters have prioritized increasing police presence despite cost concerns. A resolution was proposed to raise the hiring goal to 325 officers this fiscal year. The interim police chief supports a balanced approach to staffing to maintain recent crime reduction gains,

After nearly two hours of spirited debate, the city council passed a nonbinding resolution to beef up recruiting numbers within the Dallas Police Department. But instead of adding 325, they dropped the requirement to 300 this fiscal year.