By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal
The Columbus Police Department in Georgia is recruiting officers in Selma and Dallas County.

The department is hosting a job fair Friday, Sept. 30 at the Holiday Inn Express on Lincoln Way from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to Selma Police Chief John Brock, it is not out of the ordinary to see departments from other cities and states recruiting officers from the area.

“This is not the first time. It happens several times during the year,” Brock said.

“They have a job to do. They’re recruiting to help their department. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Brock said the Selma Police Department does not host its own job fairs in other cities, but they have attended them in other cities.

The Selma Police Department has a total of 46 officers on the force and 14 openings.

But Brock said he believes the timing of the job fair has nothing to do with the recent sick out.

“It was before the sick out when we heard they were coming,” Brock said. “I’ve known about it for a while.”

A 10 percent raise has been promised to police and fire departments, and the Selma City Council is expected to vote on it during Tuesday night’s meeting.

“The raise helps a lot,” Brock said. “A lot of people want to work where they live. A lot of them are from Selma and they want to stay here and work for the Selma Police Department.”

The last permanent raise the department received was in 2007.

According to the Columbus Police Department’s recruiting website, starting pay for officers is $17.26 an hour. Selma Police Officers currently make $12.90 an hour starting off.

While Brock hopes to keep his officers in Selma, he said it speaks highly of the Selma Police Department that other departments want to recruit here.

“Our officers are qualified. They’re looking for young officers that are very experienced, and the officers with the Selma Police Department are,” Brock said.

Multiple attempts were made to reach the Columbus Police Department, but phone calls were not returned.