Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced a significant pay increase for police cadets, marking the first raise in nearly a decade, as the base salary will rise from $42,000 to $52,000 annually, with an additional one-time incentive of $5,000 upon graduation, bringing first-year compensation to $57,000. The salary will further increase to $62,574 after a six-month probationary period. Whitmire emphasized the need for competitive compensation to address staffing shortages and attract new recruits amid growing competition from other Texas cities, such as Dallas, where starting salaries are $70,000. He acknowledged that while the raise is a step forward, it still does not adequately reflect the commitment of law enforcement personnel. The budget allows for six cadet classes, with current efforts aimed at recruiting an additional 2,000 officers to meet demand. Newly appointed Police Chief Noe Diaz encouraged cadets to assist in recruiting efforts to bolster the department's staffing.