What's the definition of "reasonable quality applicants"? Breathing? Barely graduated high school? I know that is not what you meant, but the fact is that Denver is competing with Jeffco, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster, Brighton, Douglas County, Adams County, and every law enforcement agency and school district from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins (and sometimes beyond) for "quality applicants"......and does Denver just want everyone else's "leftovers" or does Denver want to attract and compete for the best of the best also?
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A city gets what it pays for. If it pays for "high quality" it will attract "high quality." If it pays for "reasonable quality," that that is who is going to respond to your 9-1-1 call and teach the next generation of children in your school district.