LEANDER, Texas — The city of Leander is one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
"Every year, we have positions allotted by the city council but also have resignations, either officers moving to different [cities] or officers leaving the profession," Leander Police Department Lt. Mike Mohler said.
The Leander Police Department (LPD) is looking for officers for its patrol and criminal investigations, hoping to hire five people. Mohler said new hires are particularly important with the city's continuous growth.
Leander went from a population of just over 56,000 four years ago to now having a population of more than 80,000.
Mohler said when he started at the department in early 2000s, there were only 15 officers. Now there are 85.
"We have more businesses, more residential neighborhoods coming in, as well as more apartment complexes," Mohler said. "Obviously, with more businesses, [there's] more demand on the police forces as far as crimes being reported – all the way from fraud to assaults, thefts, we are experiencing everything a growing city would experience."
The department is offering a salary of upwards of $60,000 for applicants with less experience to a nearly $83,000 salary for applicants with experience. That's comparable to other Central Texas departments, like the Round Rock Police Department.
“It is a very competitive market for qualified applicants,” Mohler said.
John Melton has lived in Leander for more than 20 years and has seen the growth.
“City council has been kind of keeping up with it, and [I] certainly hope they can get more officers," Melton said. "I have seen a rise in crime since I have been here, but I know Leander PD has been taking care of things for us."
The department hopes to add more officers as the city's budget allows.